Lucky Number Slevin

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 20, 2006

Release Date: September 12th, 2006

This is a film I wanted to catch in theaters but didn’t manage to. In the end, after watching it on DVD, I’m not all that upset I missed it. Make no mistake, lots of people will love this movie. It’s got a lot of style and it tries really, really hard to be cool. I guess that’s my problem with it.

Snatch, a somewhat similar film, came off as cool without seeming to try. It was just cool. This movie, you’re constantly aware that it’s trying its hardest to be really hip. The semi-non-sensical plot follows a cast of mistaken identity as Slevin (the stupidest named character ever) is bounced back and forth between two rival mob bosses, each thinking he owes them money. In exchange to not pay, he takes on a contract job for the Boss (Morgan Freeman) to kill his rival’s son in revenge. The other boss and rival is the Rabbi, who is a rabbi, played half-heartedly by Ben Kingsley. Add into the mix the attractive, bubbly and borderline mentally handicapped character played by Lucy Liu and the aging hitman of Bruce Willis and there you have it.

A lot of people die and you’re probably supposed to be taken back by how random and cool it is, but it really doesn’t seem to have a point when it happens. Now, at the end there is the obligatory twist ending that most people will figure out about 4 minutes into the movie, and if not then about halfway in, and some of the randomness of it makes sense. We’re probably supposed to feel awed at the complexity of the plot, but really its quite simple and nothing really new.

In the end, Lucky Number Slevin has some style and will find a wide audience. It’s not nearly as good as Snatch, a movie which several have compared it to. But its on ok way to kill 109 minutes, although at times it feels more like 130 to me. Some parts just didn’t move well.

The Upside: It’s a decently stylish flick with Bruce Willis.

The Downside: It falls victim to trying too hard to be cool.

On the Side: The DVD features an alternate ending, if you’re interested.

Final Grade: B