Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeStar lineup entertains in Slevin
April 10, 2006 —
Lucky Number Slevin is a dark, comedic crime story that entertains for most of its length, but is also trite and annoying at times. It presents itself quite clearly as one of those movies in which the audience is subjected to a gaggle of images and events that seem to have little continuity, and then explains how all the pieces fit together in the end. It can be a joy or a bother to be led on like this, and in this case it is never much of a bother, but nothing really happens to make one care, either.
Josh Hartnett plays Slevin, who is staying in the New York City apartment of someone named Nick. When the resident across the hall, Lindsey (Lucy Liu), comes over to borrow some sugar, she discovers Slevin, who presents a rather dubious story involving eviction, a cheating girlfriend, and a mugging as his reason for being there. Apparently Nick and Slevin are old friends. Lindsey suspects that something has happened to Nick, although she doesn't suspect Slevin. This early scene between Hartnett and Liu feels forced and lacks any real value. Rapid-fire dialogue that is supposed to be clever comes across as artificial and foolish, and it is the worst scene in the movie.
Fortunately, it is all uphill from there. Two goons show up and forcibly escort Slevin (although they say they are looking for Nick) to a massive building, wherein a mobster named "The Boss," played by Morgan Freeman, resides. He explains to Slevin that he owes him $96,000, but says he will erase the debt if Slevin kills the son of his nemesis, the Rabbi ("Why do they call him the Rabbi?" Slevin asks. "Because he's a Rabbi," The Boss responds).
Upon going back to the apartment, the door knocks yet again, and yet two more thugs show up, and forcibly escort him to a massive building across the street from the one The Boss owns. This one is occupied by The Rabbi (Sir Ben Kingsley), who explains that Slevin owes him money also, $33,000, and gives him 48 hours to get it. These scenes, while not amazing, are nonetheless entertaining. Freeman and Kingsley are such characterful actors that it is difficult to find roles for them where they will not at least entertain on some level.
Lucky Number Slevin also stars Bruce Willis as Mr. Goodcat, a shady character who looms ominously in the background of the film, appearing briefly at various times so you don't forget about him. His character, along with Slevins' residence at Nick's apartment, provides most of the mystery of the story.
Is Lucky Number Slevin funny? Yes, it is fairly humorous, but there are no truly striking moments of comedy. Is it engrossing as a mystery? Yes, to an extent. One may never truly be bent out of shape wondering what will happen, but would at least rather find out than not. This is such a stacked cast, though, that it is a shame that more was not done with it. It is probably difficult to make a movie starring all of these actors not entertaining, but it would have been nice to see what could have really been produced utilizing all of their talents.
This is a pretty good movie, nothing more, nothing less. It isn't a great example of comedy, nor caper, nor mystery, but it does what it does. There is certainly an element of disappointment with it, though, because there was so much potential with this assemblage of actors that went to waste.