Joe Carnahan got real busy while working on the film "Smokin'
Aces." He directed it. He wrote it. And he served as one of
three line producers. I guess you could call it "his" film.
Smokin' Aces is a lot more complex that the previews would have
you believe. According to the script Primo Sparazza (Played by
long time character actor Joseph Ruskin.) is the last
significant Mafia Don. The FBI has got him covered like a
blanket. Buddy 'Aces' Israel, a Vegas cross between David
Copperfield and Don Rickles in need of an exorcism, is the FBI's
not so secret weapon snitch.
One day Aces slips out from under the FBI's thumb and hides out
in a not very secret place. Now Primo, and everybody else with a
vested interest, hires hitmen or hit women to do in Buddy Israel
while the FBI tries to get there first. Soon bodies start
falling faster than bugs in a Raid commercial.
While the hitmen maneuver, the audience learns that case files
related to Primo contain some very unusual secrets. A lot of
movie goers will be confused by this. Conspiracy theorists and
lifelong readers of mystery novels will have the that "surprise"
figured out long before the end.
Smokin' Aces features well known actors like Ray Liotta, Andy
Garcia, and Jason Bateman in medium sized parts of the ensemble
cast. The rapper known as Common proves his acting ability as
Buddy's entourage leader.
Will you enjoy Smokin' Aces? That depends on your acceptance of
the following: several pages worth of four letter words; huge
bloody body counts; and nudity that is nothing more than set
decoration. That's a call you will have to make for yourself.
By Erwin K. Roberts |