Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Aces ★★ 2007 (R)
Exhaustingly convoluted guy flick from Carnahan has sleazy nightclub magician Buddy “Aces” Israel (Piven) willing to turn FBI snitch on the Nevada mob. Naturally, the head gangster puts out a hit, attracting all sorts of other violent lowlifes, while the feds ineffectually protect Buddy in a sleazy Lake Tahoe penthouse suite. Lots of flash—lots of violence—no payoff (or maybe one too many). Like its location, it's stylish but empty. 109m/C DVD, HD DVD . US Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Alicia Keys, Ryan Reynolds, Peter Berg, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Henderson, Chris Pine, Jason Bateman, Joseph Ruskin, Davenia McFadden, Nestor Carbonell, Tommy Flanagan, Alex Rocco, Vladimir Kulich, David Proval, Joel Edgerton, Matthew Fox, Common, Mike Falkow, Kevin Durand, Maury Sterling, Christopher Egan; D: Joe Carnahan; W: Joe Carnahan; C: Mauro Fiore; M: Clint Mansell.