‘May the best hitman win’

Directed by:
Joe Carnahan

Written by:
Joe Carnahan

Cast:
Ryan Reynolds (Richard Messner), Ray Liotta (Donald Carruthers), Jeremy Piven (Buddy Israel), Andy Garcia (Stanley Locke), Ben Affleck (Jack Dupree), Alicia Keys (Georgia Sykes), Taraji P. Henson (Sharica Watters), Vladimir Kulich (The Swede), Peter Berg (‘Pistol’ Pete Deeks), Common (Sir Ivy)

The Guy Ritchie formula can be and has been used to successfully create crowd-pleasing crime comedies. Smokin’ Aces comes across as such an attempt, but misfires badly in many ways.

In its setting, the US Cosa Nostra is nearly completely dismantled by the government. Two remaining fractions are entangled in an all-out war, while the feds are closing in on both of them. One fraction belongs to Vegas showman Buddy ‘Ace’ Israel (Jeremy Piven), who is about to spill the beans on the entire organisation of his former protégé, the dying mob boss Primo Sparraza.

To prevent Israel from talking, Sparraza puts out a million dollar contract on his head, which attracts every loony hitman- and woman from the country and beyond. They all head towards the coke snorting Israel, who is holed up in a Lake Tahoe casino-hotel, while two FBI agents (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta) want to get to him first and make him participate in the Witness Protection Programme.

This set-up ensures some fireworks, but a complete lack of character development takes away the impact that the many deaths could have had. Closest things to a main character is Reynolds’, whose agent has no background story whatsoever. When the ridiculous plot twist at the end establishes him as just a puppet on a string, he becomes another potentially interesting character that is hard to give a toss about.

Richie’s early films teach us that in order to make a film like this work, you’ll need more than just flashy camera tricks. For one thing, violence needs to serve the story or it becomes gratuitous like it does here. You also need humour and a light tone. It is unexplainable why director Carnahan uses such dramatic music all the time. It makes it seem as though there is a message. There is none.

Finally, all the different plot threads need to seamlessly fit in the greater whole. Smokin’ Aces leaves plots dangling or delivers unsatisfying outcomes. Not that you’ll care, since there are barely intriguing characters in this movie. It will just make you wonder who has green lit this thing and make such an impressive ensemble cast go to waste.

Rating:

Quote:
GEORGIA SYKES: “These two dudes are sitting in the elevator all shot up. Whatever it was, it got way past words.”

Trivia:
The song played during the final credits Play Your Cards Right is performed by Common, who stars in the movie as Sir Ivy.