Simply A Masterpiece

People are voting emotionally.

As Good As It Gets

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Because my personality is incredibly rooted in the Type A persuasion and I like to theme my month's viewing schedule, I don't get as much time for rewatches as I would like. When the opportunity arose to include Lucky Number Slevin on one of my monthly lists, I took it. I watched Lucky Number Slevin shortly after its 2006 release and was impressed by it, I was so impressed by it that I introduced it to some friends and family members after my first viewing. It's always interesting to see when 10 years elapses if one still enjoys a film as much as they did soon after its release, all the more reason I'm disappointed I don't have more time for rewatches, alas, there are so many films to see. A star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, and Ben Kingsley lead an intensely gripping mystery in which every piece of filmed action is pivotal to the story. Paul McGuigan directs an engaging story told in an energetic way creating a story that necessitates watching until the final moment. While waiting at an airport, a mysterious figure tells a stranger the story of a fixed horse race in the mid-70's that resulted in the deaths of a family. The story is centered around the idea of a Kansas City Shuffle in which attention is drawn to one thing while deceit is happening in the other direction. Meanwhile, present-day the sons of two feuding mob bosses are shot down, as well as two bookies. Happening simultaneously, a young man named Slevin has sought refuge in his friend's apartment after finding out that his girlfriend has cheated on him. Caught immediately in a web of mistaken identity, Slevin realizes he has borrowed the apartment of a friend who owes several powerful people large amounts of money. Acquiescing to the needs of each mob boss in hopes of keeping himself alive, Slevin puts himself into some dangerous situations. The stakes are heightened when Slevin meets and falls in love with a chatty neighbor who works as a coroner. Soon, Slevin is being watched or followed from three different angles leaving the audience to determine what link exists connecting all the pieces. I was thrilled to learn that this film was every bit as exciting and engrossing as it was the first time I watched it, nearly 10 years ago. There are few things I appreciate more than a story that comes together so seamlessly with every single thing that was filmed having a place in the narrative. Lucky Number Slevin employs a stellar cast to bring together the brilliant story line. Flashbacks were used often in Lucky Number Slevin and were done in a unique and engaging way. Films like Lucky Number Slevin prove that mystery as a genre is alive and well, still maintaining a place in today's cinema.

I really don't understand why some people dislike this movie. The acting is very well done by a superb cast. It's sort of a retro meets modern day with murder, action, sex, love, witty comedy, revenge, and mystery. It doesn't over complicate the plot but holds the audiences attention. Overall a greatly under rated movie. Definitely worth seeing.

I remember the trailer for "Lucky Number Slevin", some sort of hit-man movie with some "Ocean's Eleven" style and humor thrown in. The real shocker is that it's absolutely nothing like that. There are hit men involved as well as some humor sprinkled here and there (primarily in the beginning) but it's much more of a gangster/crime movie. The kind of story that keeps you guessing (although, for anyone paying attention, the twist is pretty evident early on).What's disappointing is how seriously it plays the subject matter. For all of the eccentric characters introduced, and the humorous dialog in the first act, it really needed that levity maintained throughout. Once that comic tone disappears, it's a lot less interesting.To its credit, the late-hour twists don't feel cheap like I was expecting them to. But I feel like I've seen this story before. And a great deal of it is oddly lifeless.5/10

Reading Reviews from Film Critics and Bloggers, 99% of these "Clever" Cinematic Connoisseurs will "Proudly" and Loudly Name Drop Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "The Usual Suspects" (1995) and then Go On and On about these Landmark Movies and how this one is a Pretentious Imitation.If You look up the Definition of "Classic", somewhere in there it will say "inspires imitation". Is it so Bad, then that the Writer and Director were Inspired and set out to Craft a Film of Their Own. Well, deal with it, They did, and it's a pretty Good Imitation.With an All-Star Cast and an "Artsy" Delivery there is much to be Admired and the Movie never fails to be Watchable as We travel down the Path forged by Better Films and the Entertainment Value is Solid. The Movie moves along with many Pop Culture References and Snappy Comebacks (more often than not resulting in an uncomfortable retaliation for the wise-cracking Protagonist).Sure, this thing might be Guilty of Trying Very Hard to Reflect Current Trends but it mostly Succeeds in making it an Above Average entry in the Neo-Noir Genre and if You can put Your Cynicism aside and just Enjoy the Ride it will most Likely be a Fun Time at the Movies where Style, Violence, Twists, and Talky Characters Reside.