Smokin' Aces

Movies featuring Ensemble casts can be tricky. Many times they turn out to be nothing more than just a series of "big name" performers being paraded across the screen. It is a rare thing for an Ocean's Eleven to come along and be genuinely interesting, tell a good story, and keep all the egos in check. Fortunately there were not many egos to keep in check for director Joe Carnahan because many of the names were not that big or were first timers. However there is still the matter of telling an interesting story and not simply falling back on all the performers.

Smokin' Aces is the story of Las Vegas showmen, Buddy 'Aces' Israel, played by Jeremy Piven, who uses his fame to become a wannabe mobster and ends being a real FBI informant. Word gets out the Israel is an informant and the mafia hires every hitman worth something to take Israel. The lead agents for the FBI, Carruthers and Messner, played by Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds respectively are trying to make their way to Israel before the hitmen do to bring him into protective custody, needless to say they all converge on Las Vegas and Israel's hotel room around the same time and bedlam ensues.

The movie was a quirky ride that has some self identity problems. It featured a handful of very Hollywood type characters, the bombastic veteran Fed - Liotta, a group or Aryan Nation Hitmen brothers, two slick sexy young ladies who are as deadly as they are beautiful. And at the same time the movie tried to balance that with Piven and Reynold attempting to interject genuine heart and emotion into the lunacy that is happening all around them. Instead of being content with being a caper flick or an action comedy, the movie tries to be those things with moments of drama and heart injected throughout the story. I would have preferred Carnahan decide the kind of movie he wanted to make and stick to it. Instead he tries to do too much.

Having said all that the movie is still a good time, Ryan Reynolds is fun and tough and sarcastic, he will fill the void left by Bruce Willis whenever he stops trying to do action movies. You can't wrong with Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia just showing up to some aforementioned random depth to the movie. Jeremy Piven was on the money and always does a good job with what he is given. I must also take a moment to express my pleasant surprise at Common coming off as the anti-thug. He had a couple of really good moments in this movie. I hope he gets more opportunities to show up and do stuff. And of course I have say something about Ms. Keyes. Honestly I am way too into this woman to give an objective opinion of her performance. Please Hollywood keep Alicia Keyes working. I can watch her do just about anything. So the movie has some issues no doubt, but it had its moments, certainly enough to make it worth the price of admission.

GRADE - C