Shoup Airlines

South by Southeast

I’ve always had this theory that if I know absolutely nothing about a specific movie before seeing it, I will promptly enjoy the title immensely. The theory manifested here, began to prove itself here and here, and was actualized with Lucky Number Slevin.

My introduction to the film was looking through a window at the list of playing times at a movie theater. You see, I had just finished nine weeks of isolation from everything you know as the world and had to re-establish the connection. Who better to help with this then one of the world’s most renowned useless knowledge kings, Judson Kuehling? The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hey Judd, how’s it going?

Judd: Not bad, yourself? Wait, you just get out of boot camp?

Me: Yes, and now we’re in Virginia, but that’s not important right now. We need a quick synopsis on all the movies out right now so we can vote what movie to go see.

Judd: Umm, okay.

Me: Silent Hill, I know it’s the video game, movie probably sucks, but we got one guy that wants to know?

Judd: Yeah, sucks.

Me: Okay, how about The Sentinel?

Judd: Some secret service deal with Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Douglas. There’s a traitor amongst their ranks.

Me: They already turned “24″ into a movie, eh? You’re reading the synopses online aren’t you?

Judd: Yeah.

Me: Okay, how about this Seven flic? Er, Slevin? Uh, the Lucky Number deal with Bruce Willis?

Judd: You know, I don’t know. I haven’t heard much about. I just know it has a bunch of people in it.

Me: Wow! You should definitely replace Ebert when he kicks the bucket. Okay, how about Inside Man?

The conversation continued a little more, but I’m tired of typing. Keeping the divagation to a minimum, my interest was piqued with even that little an explanation, but I lost out in the vote and we saw Inside Man. Reviewed here.

Now to the meat and potatoes. FINALLY!! I still knew nothing about this movie but promptly put it in my Netflix queue (only 3 months after returning home) and watched it tonight. So yeah, this movie falls neatly into place as the other bookend to North by Northwest in my top five. Slevin plays on the same theme of mistaken identity and has a definite bite a la North, but sinks its teeth in a very different place than Hitch’s masterpiece. They even make a reference to Mr. Capland which made me smile but I don’t think had to be so point blank. Subtlety works best in those situations.

There isn’t a bad thing to be said of the cast. You have Josh Hartnett playing the main character of mistaken identity captured perfectly with his quirky/darkly undertoned type he always plays. They nailed the flawless assassin with Bruce Willis. I can’t think of a better person to have played that character. Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley play the warring mob bosses and, as expected, chew up the scenery. There’s even a ton of big names in the supporting cast: Stanley Tucci, Robert Forrester, Danny Aiello and Mykelti Williamson in what seems an exact reprisal of Bubba from Forrest Gump, oddly enough.

And then there is Lucy Liu. I’ve always respected her work from “Ally McBeal” to Kill Bill, but never thought much beyond it. So really, it’s not even her, or maybe it is (she is hot), but I found myself strongly attracted to her character. Which is strange because I don’t think I’ve ever done that before with any movie character.

If I was ever to write a movie, this is exactly how I would have done it. The wordplay and sarcasm are top notch. The cinematography fleshes the script out. Then the soundtrack comes in with subtle piano and jazz numbers that fit so perfectly I can’t begin to describe them. The main twist is predictable which disappointed at first. However, I think the writer knew that and gives you several, and I mean SEVERAL, unexpected “subtwists” which really become the main twists if you don’t twist yourself around the axle twisting…er, thinking about it. Excellent movie!

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