Movie review: ‘Smokin’ Aces,’ ace in the hole

By: Chris Fort
Contributing Writer

“Smokin’ Aces” is a shameless, thrill ride of a film only a guy could truly love. Why? It’s all about one thing: killing Buddy “Aces” Israel. There’s enough senseless carnage and destruction in this film to make Quentin Tarantino drool. It’s a bloody good feature that moves fast and leaves you guessing as to what will happen next.

Buddy Israel, around whom the movie is centered, is a famous Vegas magician with ties to the last mob syndicate left in the criminal underworld. Now those same ties have come back to haunt him as his plans to testify against mob boss Primo Sparazza have turned Israel into a living paycheck. Any hitman interested in collecting one million dollars need only cut out the beating heart of the master illusionist and return it to Sparazza on a silver platter.

The fun ensues from there as Israel, portrayed magnificently by “Entourage” star Jeremy Piven, shacks up in his Lake Tahoe penthouse unaware of the danger that awaits him. Meanwhile, a slew of villains are fast approaching, each using their own unique talents to, hopefully, be the one to collect the debt on Israel’s head.

While the plot sounds entertaining enough as it is, the characters are what make this movie worth watching. Among the assassins hired to knock off Israel are a trio of maniacal, chainsaw-wielding brothers who look as though they belong in a Rob Zombie film. Then there’s music star Alicia Keyes making her acting debut as a hired gun alongside her partner Sharice, played by Taraji Henson. The two are a deadly pair more capable than any one man. Ben Affleck, of all people, also makes an appearance. He plays a small role as a bail bondsman sent to capture Israel before the rest of the villains do. Mercifully, his screen time is cut to a minimum.

Then there are the good guys, as Hollywood legend Ray Liotta plays the part of FBI agent Donald Carruthers, along with Ryan Reynolds, star of the hit teen comedies “Van Wilder” and “Waiting.” Liotta shines as usual, but it’s hard to take Reynolds seriously in his first non-comedic role.

While Liotta and Keyes perform admirably in their roles, Piven is the real star of this film. His character, Israel, is a womanizing, cocaine-addicted jerk who’s not above ridiculing his own bodyguards for amusement. Piven digs into the part and makes him the most real character in the film. At the height of all the drama in the film, he sits alone in his bathroom staring at himself in the mirror. It’s at this point that you get to see the human side of Buddy Israel, beneath the drugs and the debauchery, and you begin to pity the downtrodden celebrity. It’s also at this point that you realize how underappreciated Jeremy Piven is as an actor.

The movie as a whole is a lot of fun, but it’s not without its share of downfalls. The characters are never fully developed and there’s so much that isn’t covered in the paltry 109-minute run-time. The film ends right as the plot is twisting and all you want is to see what happens next. Alas, director Joe Carnahan fails to deliver, and we’re left with a half-baked plot that never gets to see the light of day. However, despite its flaws, “Smokin’ Aces” is certainly worth a view. It’s funny, suspenseful and, most importantly, – it’s entertaining.