Lucky Number Slevin - the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang of 2006

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2007)

I think I can confidently say that "Lucky Number Slevin" was the "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" of 2006. It looked like "KKBB", it sounded like "KKBB", and I enjoyed it as much as "KKBB".
The weird thing was that I didn't think I would, namely because of Josh Hartnett in the title role. And yet he surprised me, just as Val Kilmer did in "KKBB", by pulling off a brilliant performance in understatement. Compared to the heavyweights - Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsly, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci - he seemed calm and assured throughout. In the scenes with Lucy Lui he was actually quite touching. All of the above mentioned were fantastic by the way, though I would have liked to see more of the two gang leaders, Freeman and Kingsly.
But, just like "KKBB", I am a fan of this film because of its script. It is red hot, full of great one-liners and dark humour, with a few zingers of plot twisting to match. You are kept right up in your seat for the most part, though it is a little slow to start.
The music is also a bit sparse, and the interiors are rather ugly, though this has probably something to do with the look of the film, in which case, it kind of works.
Overall, if you're looking for a good mystery/comedy/thriller to rock your boat, and you enjoyed "KKBB", then get this and thank me later.
7/10