by Will Coffin

Created on: February 02, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

The only word I can think of to describe this film is wow. The action is much better than most movies that claim to have. Name one other film where we get to see the true damage an anti-aircraft sniper rifle would cause on a human body. Whoo! I am still shaking from some of the scenes in this flick. The actors in this movie consist of Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck, Alicia Keys and eveyones favorite drunk lawyer Jason Bateman. I know I left out dozens of others but those are the biggest names. So on to the review.

I don't want to say who the main character was because I do not want to get anyone upset if someone had more airtime then it seemed but suffice it to say nearly everyone had a very deep and engaging storyline. Buddy 'Aces' Israel is the biggest magic act in Las Vegas since that guy got attacked by his cat or whatever happened. With that kind of popularity it was only a matter of time until he got connections with organized crime. In fact he became so big that he split the mob family in two. The people loyal to Israel (east side Vegas) and the people loyal to the current father of the family Primo Sparazza- played by Joseph Ruskin (west side Vegas). Afraid of a turf war, Israel starts snitching to the FBI- mainly represented by the FBI Assistant Director Stanley Locke and agents Richard Messner and Donald Carruthers.

When Sparazza finds out Israel is selling out the west side crew he decides it is time for him to be clipped and he wants a million dollars for his heart! He sends for a very suspicious specialist from Sweden that nobody knows much about. In fact he is a ghost on the FBI's radar. In Vegas, a million dollar hit is hard to keep quiet, so now every hit man you can imagine is popping out of the wood work trying to get Buddy Israel's heart. The first team stepping up to the plate is Georgia Sykes and Sharice Watters. This twosome has done some work for the mob before but they are ultimately new to the game but can they score the winning goal. Who says organized murder is a male dominated world. Next up are the Tremor brothers. These three are strong armed leg breakers who mainly do armed robberies until they heard about the million dollars. Oh, and did I mention that they're Nazis! Despite that disturbing fact, they were still my favorites in this one. Coming up next is the one referred to as the torturer Pasquale Acosta. This character seemed like he belonged in "Hostile" but he still felt at home in Vegas. Unfortunately we did not get to see enough of this man's true potential. And the title of 'biggest competition for all other hitmem' goes to master-of-disguise Lazlo Soot. Mr. Soot is nowhere near new to these bloody waters. When you see someone suspicious it will be too late for you because you'd be looking in the wrong direction, that's how good Lazlo Soot is. But is he good enough to get Buddy Israel's heart?

The only thing protecting Israel from this army of well armed monsters are agents Richard Messner and Donald Carruthers. Israel's lawyer Rupert "Rip" Reed also hired bail bondsman Jack Dupree and two ex-cops Hollis Elmore and "Pistol" Pete Deeks. But are they good enough and armed enough to protect the magician?

This movie had it all and then some. I loved every minute and would recommend it to anyone even though it is far from family oriented. I give Smokin' Aces a five out of five.

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