Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writer (WGA):

Jason Smilovic (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Wrong Time. Wrong Place. Wrong Number.

Plot:

A case of mistaken identity lands Slevin into the middle of a war being plotted by two of the city's most rival crime bosses: The Rabbi and The Boss. Slevin is under constant surveillance by relentless Detective Brikowski as well as the infamous assassin Goodkat and finds himself having to hatch his own ingenious plot to get them before they get him.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Mistaken Identity | Assassin | Morgue | Revenge

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 20

1:00 AM

SPIKETV

Cast

Josh Hartnett	...	Slevin Kelevra
Bruce Willis	...	Mr. Goodkat
Lucy Liu	...	Lindsey
Morgan Freeman	...	The Boss
Ben Kingsley	...	The Rabbi (as Sir Ben Kingsley)
Michael Rubenfeld	...	Yitzchok
Peter Outerbridge	...	Det. Dumbrowski
Stanley Tucci	...	Det. Brikowski
Kevin Chamberlin	...	Marty
Dorian Missick	...	Elvis
Mykelti Williamson	...	Sloe
Scott Gibson	...	Max
Daniel Kash	...	Bodyguard #1
Dmitry Chepovetsky	...	Bodyguard #2
Sam Jaeger	...	Nick Fisher

Also Known As:

Lucky # Slevin (Germany) (USA) (DVD box title)
Lucky Number S7evin (USA) (poster title)
The Wrong Man (Australia)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:18 | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Spain:18 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | France:U | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Australia:MA | Italy:T | Brazil:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | USA:R (certificate #42253) | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Capitol Films

Trivia:

On promotional material for the film, Ben Kingsley's credit included his KCVO title. At first, the actor was singled out for some criticism as such things are usually omitted from professional credits. It transpired that this was a mistake by a studio executive, who was unfamiliar with the British honours system.

Goofs:

Continuity: when Slevin and Lindsay are walking back from their date and talking about picking up a pigtail; there is an extra behind them that disappears and reappears several times.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Soldier: He's clean.
Benny Begin: So, why are you here? Huh?

Movie Connections:

References From Russia with Love (1963)

Soundtrack:

After Laughter (Comes Tears)

Wow! Great Noir Caper Flick

2006 Sundance Film Festival From the opening scene in Lucky Number Slevin, you will be straining to keep up. People are getting killed left and right, and it's never clear until the end of the movie how they are all connected. But you know it fits somehow and Scottish director Paul McGuigan (Wicker Park) manages to keep you guessing while firmly grabbing your attention and holding it with hardly a second to take a breath.

In the film noir tradition, but with the intense and graphic violence of the Lock Stock and Layer Cake genre, Slevin is really a caper movie, and frankly reminded me more of The Sting than anything else. It dances nimbly from grisly stomach-churning action to clever and light-hearted banter. This could only be accomplished by a truly incredible cast, led by Josh Hartnett in an outstanding performance, great work by Lucy Liu, Bruce Willis doing his thing, and supported by the always excellent Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley. There's even a little time for Stanley Tucci.

Liu plays Lindsay, the next-door-neighbor/natural sleuth/coroner/love interest who discovers Slevin in her neighbor Nick's apartment. They mystery that immediately engages her is what happened to Nick, who never shows up. However, plenty of people do show up, mistaking Slevin for Nick, and before long he is neck deep in murder contracts, called debts and warring gang factions. Hartnett plays the role to perfection. I've never seen him this good. He is both convincing and empathetic as a glib, fearless victim of mistaken identity, yet filled with confidence that he can make his plan work.

This is a terrific film, assuming you can stomach the bloody violence. The pieces fit neatly together (well, I have one bone to pick with the scriptwriter, but it would be revealing too much to share it). I highly recommend Lucky Number Slevin.