Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Trying too hard to be clever in a Pulp Fiction kind of way, this film succums to a convoluted plot, overly stylized characters and dizzying set design.
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Slevin Kelevra
as The Boss
as The Rabbi
as Lindsey
as Detective Brikowski
as Mr. Goodkat
as Marty
as Henry
as Yitzchok
as Dumbrowski
as Elvis
as Sloe
as Nick Fisher
as Roth
as Detective Murphy
as Max
as Bodyguard No. 1
as Bodyguard No. 2
as Saul
as Abe
as Mugger
as The Guy
as Slevin's Girlfriend
as Hottie
as Blondie
as Doc
as Morty
as Old Waiter
as Slim Hopkins
as Benny Begin
as Ginger
as Soldier
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Critic Reviews for Lucky Number Slevin
All Critics (154) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (79) | Rotten (75) | DVD (12)
With its diabolical ending, this is the movie equivalent of a crossword puzzle: fun, clever, and disposable.
Only Lucy Liu's insanely perky neighbour emerges with any real credit.
It shrinks your perception of what movies can do.
Everything in it -- every confusion, every line of unspeakable dialogue, every red herring, every camera setup -- has been borrowed from some movie you've seen before.
It finally all makes sense after a fashion, and I think and hope that you will be entertained by all the narrative legerdemain.
I think it was entertaining as heck.
Audience Reviews for Lucky Number Slevin
A glossy revenge spin, played light, where characters quip while trading punches to the gut. It's not as amusing as it seems to think it is. And Lucy Liu ... why don't that girl see more work?
Super Reviewer
Josh Hartnett plays Slevin, a man in the wrong place at the wrong time when he is caught up in a war between two rival gangsters. Clearly inspired by the post modern thrillers of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, Lucky Number Slevin is a smart and sassy if slightly self-conscious revenge story. Hartnett's character is maybe a bit too much of a smug smart ass for the first half of the film, but as things darkened I liked it a whole lot more. It looks great and although it lacks the subtlety of The Usual Suspects and the like, the quality performances and clever dialogue keeps things interesting. The weak link was probably Lucy Liu's character who's responsible for one of the more implausible moments of the story but some nice chemistry with her co-star papers over the resulting plot hole. But these facts only stop it from being a GREAT film, not a GOOD one; Freeman, Kingsley, Tucci and Willis are all great and it is consistently entertaining. Compared to other ironic thrillers, I'd have to say it's not quite as good as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but better than Smokin' Aces. Smarter and better looking than the average mainstream thriller.
Super Reviewer
The biggest thing I remember hearing about this film upon it's release was the mentioning of Ben Kingsley's Knighthood on the film poster. This seemed to create quite a stir, as professional credits don't normally include this. It transpired that is was all just a mistake but it overshadowed the film itself, which is a shame as this is quite a tight little mystery/thriller. Arriving in New York to stay at a friend's apartment, Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett) finds that his friend is missing and owes money to two very dangerous criminals - The Boss (Morgan Freeman) and The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley). Added to which, Slevin finds himself mistaken for his absent friend and soon involved in a lot of trouble with them both. With the help of his friends neighbour Lindsey (Lucy Liu), Slevin tries to clear up the confusion. I've always been a sucker for films that twist and tease, keeping you perplexed and forcing you to keep up to speed. I like it when the script has actually been given some attention and one that demands the attention of the viewer. This is that type of film. It keeps you guessing and is not without a dark and lightness of touch either. It helps when there's an impressive cast assembled also and each of the performers involved here deliver fine pieces of work. Seeing old hands Freeman and Kingsley play off one another is a particular highlight. Ultimately, it's the convoluted nature of the story that impresses most though. Screenwriter Jason Smilovic and director Paul McGuigan add substance and style to the proceedings and keep you at just the distance from the characters' motivations. However, intricate and clever films also face the danger of becoming too loaded. For the most part, this film is a success but the denouement is a little muddled. For a film of this type to work, it needs to have a pay-off and this does have a satisfactory one. The only problem is, it has one two many. Without revealing too much, the fate of a prominent character seems like it's been tacked on and stinks of studio involvement, letting down an otherwise intricate and cleverly constructed film. A satisfyingly convoluted crime yarn with an impressive and eclectic mix of actors. However, the unravelling is a major demerit. Well, that and Bruce Willis' ridiculous hairpieces.
Super Reviewer
Lucky Number Slevin Quotes
| Slevin: | They picked up the wrong guy. |
| The Boss: | Wrong guy for what? |
| Slevin: | Whatever it is you wanted to see me about. |
| The Boss: | Do you know what I want to see you about? |
| Slevin: | No. |
| The Boss: | Then how do you know I have the wrong guy? |
| Schlomo: | The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it's time to go shopping for a saddle. |
| Lindsey: | What happened to your nose? |
| Slevin: | I was using it to break some guy's fist. |
| Mr. Goodkat: | A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left. |
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