There's a certain school of filmmaking that says the more convoluted the plot, the better. And Paul McGuigan’s Lucky Number Slevin has just gone top of the class. John Hartnett plays Slevin, a hip young drifter who, via a case of mistaken identity, finds himself caught between feuding New York crime lords the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and the Boss (Morgan Freeman). But while the relentless, endless plot twists will keep you hooked, Slevin is never as smart as it thinks.
First, we're introduced to a ruthless assassin, Goodkat (a brilliantly steely Bruce Willis). Next we're with Slevin himself, who has visited a friend’s flat in NYC, only to find it mysteriously deserted. Soon, both the Boss and the Rabbi have sent goons to the apartment. Convinced that Slevin is his absent friend, the gangsters demand that he kill a man and find $30,000 to repay some hefty debts. It's an elaborate and fast-paced set up, with laughs courtesy of Slevin’s kooky, wisecracking neighbour Lindsey (Lucy Liu).
"SUSPENSE IS WASTED"
But the second half, in which the innumerable loose ends are tied, is a let down. Kingsley and Freeman shine individually, but their inevitable, climatic clash of heads lacks force. With even more plot twists than there are styling products in Hartnett's hair, we're kept guessing, but all the suspense is wasted by a clunky, explanation-for-dummies ending. And then there's Hartnett: fine for zippy one liners, but unable to bring much-needed menace. Like its leading man, this movie presents a charming façade with nothing much underneath.
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
