Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8058 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-05-07
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Icelandic, Arabic
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A frantic and frequently amusing cocktail of Tarantino cool and Hong Kong bullet ballet, Joe (Narc) Carnahan's Smokin' Aces delivers some inspired moments of action and dark comedy in its dizzying-comic book plot about a rogue's gallery of killers on the hunt for a mob informer. At the core of Carnahan's bloody shaggy-dog tale is Buddy Israel (Jeremy Piven, offering a more desperate take on his standard hustler persona), a Vegas magician who's turned informant against the mobsters who have treated him as their personal entertainment. Wishing to close Buddy's overactive mouth permanently, the mob capo puts a bounty on the two-bit showman's head, and a horde of hitmen descends on Buddy's digs to claim the prize.

The unholy crew of gunmen offer the movie's most inspired (and outlandish) moments, with R&B singer Alicia Keys (as a cool, Foxy Brown-esque assassin), Nestor Carbonell (as a torture-minded sadist), Ben Affleck and Peter Berg (low-key bail bondsmen) and Chris Pine (the leader of a trio of semi-savage brothers) among the more memorable villains. Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, and Andy Garcia represent the other side of the coin as FBI agents determined to get to Buddy before the legion of doom, and the clashes between both factions produce some eye-popping gunplay. If there's any complaint to be made about Smokin' Aces, it's that the tone shifts between action-drama and hipster comedy feel forced (Carnahan struck a firmer balance between the two in his 1998 indie effort, Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane), but the performances and shootout set pieces, as well as Carnahan's hyperactive camera work, do much to make those transitions palatable. Eagle-eyed audience members will note the presence veteran scene stealers Curtis Armstrong (Ray), David Proval (The Sopranos), and Alex Rocco (The Godfather's Moe Green) in supporting roles. -- Paul Gaita

Synopsis
Fresh from his success with Entourage, Jeremy Piven gives his career a further boost by taking the lead role in director Joe Carnahan's (Narc) fast-paced thriller, Smoking Aces. Piven plays Buddy 'Aces' Israel, a former Vegas performer who has holed up in the penthouse suite of a Lake Tahoe casino after what seems like half the planet decides they want him dead. The reason for this bloodlust stems from Israel's dalliances with the mob, who have put a $1 million price tag on his head after discovering he is about to tell all to the feds. The only people who don't want to put a premature end to Israel's life are two FBI agents, played by Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta, and their boss, Andy Garcia. As various assassins attempt to put an end to Israel's pitiful existence, a parade of celebrity cameos ensues, including Alicia Keys, Common, Ben Affleck, and Jason Bateman. Carnahan soaks the screen with vivid primary colours, lots of flashy set pieces, and plenty of guns and violence as his movie thunders from one explosive scene to the next. The shooting style, script, and acting are all highly indebted to Quentin Tarantino's early works, and the impressive ensemble cast will ensure plenty of Pulp Fiction comparisons. Standout performances come courtesy of Piven and Liotta, with the former revelling in a character surrounded by burly bodyguards, cheap hookers, and a blizzard of cocaine as he sweats and paces around his penthouse hideout, ultimately awaiting either freedom or death as the movie nears its spectacular finale.

Customer Reviews

Frantic and Violent Crime Caper
When Las Vegas magician Buddy 'Aces' Israel agrees to testify against his mob boss pal, a bounty of $1,000,000 is placed upon his head, attracting every hitman (and woman) in the free world. Word soon gets out that Israel is holed up in the penthouse suite of a Lake Tahoe hotel and FBI agents Reynolds and Liotta frantically try to get to him before wave upon wave of bail bondsmen, bounty hunters and assassins get there first.

Smokin' Aces seems to get generally poor reviews which suprises me because it is actually a very entertaining film. I think people are getting tired of the Taratino-esque crime caper but this film has an original edge to it that makes it worth watching. The characters are great and grotesque at the same time, from Alicia Keys' solid performance as a stone cold assassin, to Reynolds and Liottas feds, to the Tremor brothers and other assorted murderers. The screenplay is pretty cool too ("Don't let my face be the last thing you see. Heaven may hold it aginst you"). The film is very frantic from beginning to end and incredibly violent. The major let down is the convoluted ending that tries to add a twist to proceedings that really wasn't necessary.

Like this? Try: Things to do in Denver when you're dead

smokin aces
Narc director Joe Carnahan's follow up is a rip roaring action spectacle though if you were expecting a gritty down to earth Narc style film then you're in for something completely different.
When a sleazy Vegas showman turns FBI snitch a hit is placed on his head for one million dollars by a mob boss, placed in protective custody at a penthouse hide out assassins from all over take aim trying to walk away a million richer.
The action set pieces are very well directed & very exciting, laced over with a beating soundtrack great twist ending some very good performances from the main leads what you get is a great night in as long as you don't take it to seriously. If you're an action fan make sure to keep smokin aces in your sights.

Take off your clever hat for a while and enjoy.
If you where I expecting a deep mobster story (like Road to pedition) then you will be disapointed, but if all you wanted was film to get your adrenaline pumping and some crazyely well directed gun fights then this is a film for you.
Although it is a bit slow to start up and the gun fights do end rather abrupdly it still keeps the story (in so far as there is one) going at a good pace and with an ending that you could probaly guess if you still have your clever hat on (but i thought i told you to take it off).

So the best way to summeris this film is that it is a big dumb action movie and proud of it. Dont try and analyse the story. dont try to think to hard about the story, just sit back and enjoy.