25th Hour (2002)

Cornered by the DEA, convicted New York drug dealer Montgomery Brogan reevaluates his life in the 24 remaining hours before facing a seven-year jail term.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

David Benioff (novel), David Benioff (screenplay)

Stars:

Edward Norton, Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Norton	...	Monty Brogan
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Jacob Elinsky
Barry Pepper	...	Frank Slaughtery
Rosario Dawson	...	Naturelle Riviera
Anna Paquin	...	Mary D'Annunzio
Brian Cox	...	James Brogan
Tony Siragusa	...	Kostya Novotny
Levani	...	Uncle Nikolai
Tony Devon	...	Agent Allen
Misha Kuznetsov	...	Senka Valghobek
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Agent Flood
Michael Genet	...	Agent Cunningham
Patrice O'Neal	...	Khari
Al Palagonia	...	Salvatore Dominick
Aaron Stanford	...	Marcuse

Storyline

The 25th Hour depicts the last day of freedom for a young man before he begins serving a seven-year jail term for drug dealing. Prowling through the city until dawn with his two close male friends and his girlfriend, he is forced to re-examine his life and how he got himself into his predicament, which leads to a shocking, disturbing finale.

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Plot Keywords:

drug dealing | dream | bar | nightclub | widower | 

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Taglines:

Can you change your whole life in a day?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

The 25th Hour

Filming Locations:

Granger, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$108,865, 22 December 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,060,843, 6 April 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

25th Hour Productions, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Gamut Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 108 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Monty's line, "Champagne for my real friends, and real pain for my sham friends," is a Francis Bacon quote.

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Goofs

The age of consent in New York is 17 so when Naturelle asks Monty what if she was really 17 rather than 18, his response of how it might change things doesn't make much sense.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Monty Brogan: Look at this. He's alive.
Kostya Novotny: This dog, how you call it? Bull pit?
Monty Brogan: No, Pit-Bull. But that's not a pit bull. I don't know, I don't know what he is. I bet he lost somebody some money though. Give me your gun.
Kostya Novotny: Shooting him?
Monty Brogan: Yeah.

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Crazy Credits

Special Thanks ... Bruce "Da Boss" Springsteen

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Connections

References A Place in the Sun (1951)

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Soundtracks

The Message
Written by Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio
Performed by Cymande
Courtesy of Janus Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Celebrity Licensing Inc.

User Reviews

A Haunting Dose of Reality

Having seen Spike Lee's "25th Hour", I must say I was pleased. Lee's plot is both involving and heartfelt, showing the essence of reality. His script is fresh, yet somewhat slow in spots. His characters shine, however, in a truly believeable tale of consequence. Edward Norton, in another masterful performance, shows an almost frightening level of genuine human emotion as the protagonist Montgomery Brogan. The supporting cast consisting of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, and veteran Brian Cox provide a solid foundation that allows Lee's story to flow freely. While most would consider this tale a literal one, take note: It is quite apparent, through subtlety and the rather obvious "restroom mirror scene" that Spike Lee has a message he wants to get across. What I think makes "25th Hour" so appealing on a theoretical level is the fact that his message is surprisingly open-ended; allowing the individual viewer to decide what he or she wants to retain from the film. This is a genuine film experience; a haunting dose of reality.