LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN

Life is nothing more than a simple game of chess. The King is the brain who should always’ be protected. The Queen is the heart who governs the brain. The subservient pieces quip and parry to defend the whole. And the pawns are the lowest denomination whom defends the highest. Also, chess is like this film too, one Directed by Paul McGuigan; and Starring: Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, and Sir Ben Kingsley. It was made in 2006, and lasts for 110 minutes.


Lucky Number Slevin


THE STORY:
In a deserted airport terminus, Mr. Smith (Bruce Willis), approaches a stranger, and then tells him about an unfortunate story involving a family’s death – all due to a horse-racing scam helmed by crooks. Then, once this story is told, Mr Smiths kills the stranger, unveiling himself to be Mr Goodkat – a trained assassin.

I am sure that you will agree that this is a strange turn of events, right? Though not as strange as what happens next, to a very unlucky man called Slevin Kelevra (John Harnett).

You see, following a very turbulent day for broken-nosed Slevin, he goes to a friend’s apartment – Nick – only to find out that he is not there. Still, an adjoining neighbor – Lindsey (Lucy Liu) – is at hand to keep him company for a while, and she flirts with him just long enough to borrow a cup of sugar.

However, that is not the strange part of Slevins adventure – because on two separate occasions, he is mistakenly snatched out of Nick’s apartment, and then propositioned to by two different crime bosses.

The first crime boss is called “The Boss” (Morgan Freeman), whom elaborates to Slevin about a revenge attack that he wishes to deploy on a rival crime boss called “The Rabbi” (Dir Ben Kingsley). Now the Boss thinks that Slevin is his friend, Nick, someone who owes the Boss some money – ninety five thousand dollars worth. Therefore, to pay off this debt, he wishes for Slevin to kill the Rabbi’s gay son – in retribution for killing his own.

The second crime boss Slevin meets – if you cannot guess – is called the Rabbi – and Nick owes him some money too. Unlike the Boss, though, the Rabbi just wants his money back within three days – something that Slevin does not think he will be able to achieve.

Please note, within the background of these two separate negotiations, the crime bosses actions are being guided along by Mr Goodkat.

OK, so what do you think Slevin does next? Correct – he goes to dinner with Lindsey.

Nevertheless, in so doing, he: (1) Instigates a plan to meet up with the Rabbi’s son for the following day. (2) Is approached by the police for information. And (3) Gets to know Lindsey on a more personable level, WINK-WINK!

 

The following day, though, actions are brought to light more clearly – relating to all the parties involved. It starts just after a night of passion between Slevin and Lindsey, it then continues with Slevin being approached by the police once more, and it ends when Slevin goes to the Rabbi's gay son’s apartment to kill him.

What then transpires is long, drawn out, and revelling – as people are killed – ploys are relayed – origins are exposed – and love is finally found at the airport.

THE REVIEW:
I find that 'Lucky Number Slevin' is a multifaceted film, one which manages to do three different things at the same time. This first thing is does it characterize, the second thing it does is tell a multi-level story, and the third thing it does is to entertain.

To elaborate:

THE CHARACTERS:

Characterisation is the key to this film – as it bestows onto all actors involved – no matter how small the role – some little nuance to highlight an archetypal attribute. For example – Bruce is silent but deadly – Morgan is mannered but methodical – Ben is like some type of Jewish car salesman – Lucy is the most adorable girl next door that I have ever seen – and Josh is just a poor shmuck down on his luck (well, at first anyway). I found that each and every actor was just sublime upon the screen, as they were able to give some real depth to there subliminally two-dimensional parts. OK, so ‘two-dimensional’ maybe a tad too harsh to define these character traits – though the simple manner in which these characters are portrayed, is very reminiscent of films of old. 

THE STORY:

This film is just a role coaster ride from start to finish – as it is relentless in its artistic direction – it is witty with its pithy dialogue – and it is captivating with every single step it takes though this novelistic crime based thriller. In many ways it has taken the best parts out of other ‘novelised’ type films – such as 'Resevoir Dogs', 'Fight Club', and 'Seven' – and then spun its own take upon this genre. Granted, like many of these films in which I have just stated, it does flimflam all over the place where the story is concerned. However, at the same time is does seem to hold the central plot together quite nicely, and allows for a slow burn to be released by the end of the film. I found this latter part to be the most engrossing part of the ‘Lucky Number Slevin’ all in all, as the long and drawn out conclusion was just titivating, suspenseful, and revealing.

THE ENTERTAINMENT:

If you are a fan of both of the previous two factors that I have just mentioned – story and characterization – you cannot help but be entertained by this film. The actors are great – the story is enveloping – the camera work is ornate – the score is non-intrusive – and the overall package is just first class. And that is what this film is you know? Class – it spills out all over the screen with every frame it flicks though. OK, in places, some of the stuff on show is kind of cheesy, but this just seems to meld into the whole with a certain amount of panache.

Therefore, if you are a fan of novelistic based films, or just like a multi-levelled crime based thriller, this is a must see movie, and well worth to be in your collection. Classic. 

THE RATING: A