When a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy Israel decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob, it seems that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing.
Mob boss Primo Sparazza has taken out a hefty contract on Buddy "Aces" Israel, a sleazy magician who has agreed to turn state's evidence against the Vegas mob. The FBI, sensing a chance to use this small-time con to bring down big-target Sparazza, places Aces into protective custody-under the supervision of two agents dispatched to Aces' Lake Tahoe hideout. When the word of the price on Aces' head spreads into the community of ex-cons and cons-to-be, it entices bounty hunters, thugs-for-hire, deadly vixens and double-crossing mobsters to join in the hunt. With all eyes on Tahoe, this rogues' gallery collides in a comic race to hit the jackpot and rub out Aces.Written by
Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
DIRECTOR CAMEO (Joe Carnahan): When Jack Dupree (Ben Affleck) is talking about Buddy Israel (Jeremy Piven), it shows a bank robbery going on. For a split second, you see a man with a beard and sunglasses leaning his back on a truck yelling out, and holding a machine gun. This is Carnahan. See more »
Goofs
The opening Lake Tahoe shot appears to indicate that Buddy's penthouse suite is at the Mont Bleu hotel. The real hotel does not have suites with windows as wide as depicted in the film. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Donald Carruthers:
You've got to be careful when doing your stakeouts. I did one for... I was on one for six months. I gained, like, 20, 25 pounds. You keep eating this crap...
Richard Messner:
Well, that's not my problem, though. I don't gain weight. I tried.
Donald Carruthers:
That's 'cause you're 12 years old.
See more »
Like Light To The Flies
(Cory Beaulieu, Matt K. Heafy (as Matthew K. Heafy), Jason Suecof)
Performed by Trivium
Courtesy of Roadrunner Records Inc. See more »
Smokin' Aces was most certainly a bit of a magic show within itself, in that while you watched the evident plot go one way, you didn't notice the actual plot until BAM! it came out of nowhere. It wasn't the most coherent of plots sometimes, but for the most part it all wraps up in the end.
As far as greatness goes, this won't be up there winning awards. Rather, it might be remembered fondly as "that cool movie I saw a while ago." Good drama, good action. Ryan Reynolds breaks out in a truly serious and compelling role.
Definitely a movie worth viewing.
109 of 193 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
Smokin' Aces was most certainly a bit of a magic show within itself, in that while you watched the evident plot go one way, you didn't notice the actual plot until BAM! it came out of nowhere. It wasn't the most coherent of plots sometimes, but for the most part it all wraps up in the end.
As far as greatness goes, this won't be up there winning awards. Rather, it might be remembered fondly as "that cool movie I saw a while ago." Good drama, good action. Ryan Reynolds breaks out in a truly serious and compelling role.
Definitely a movie worth viewing.