My Take on the Movies - LUCKY NUMBER S7EVIN
Josh Hartnett (Sin City - 2005) is S7evin, an apparent victim of mistaken identity, in the 2006 film Lucky Number S7evin. S7evin is full of action, from its gripping opening scenes to its surprising conclusion. The film was written by Jason Smilovic and directed by Paul McGuigan.
Despite the name, the number seven is apparently anything but lucky, for nearly everyone involved. The sole exception might be “world-class” assassin Good Cat a.k.a. Mr. Smith (Bruce Willis). Good Cat is a master of the Kansas City Shuffle, a diversionary tactic wherein “while everybody looks right, you go left.” The film makes so many left turns that it is close to impossible to figure out which direction to look.
The narrative portion of the film begins with a tale that is more than twenty years old, a tale of lucky numbers, and hot tips, and of hard lessons. The recipient of this tale is Nick Fisher (Sam Jaeger of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), who is somehow central to the plot of the movie, without even being around.
The major players in this twisted crime drama are “The Boss” (Morgan Freeman) and “The Rabbi” (Sir Ben Kingsley of Schindler’s List - 1993). Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels – 2000/2003) is Nick’s neighbor who develops an intense interest in S7evin. There are so many characters in and out of the plot that it is next to impossible to keep track of them all. Some of the minor characters are played by Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing - 1989) Mykelti Williamson (ATL - 2006), and Stanley Tucci (Road to Perdition - 2002) as Detective Brikowski.
The film has an eerie feel, not improved in the least by the dozens of very quirky patterns of wallpaper in the rooms where S7evin spends his time. The paper is so wild that it takes the viewer’s eye away from the ball so to speak, in effect creating a diversion of its own. Repeated flashbacks are cut into the main action with such frequency and speed that it is sometimes difficult for the mind to keep track. Add to that the sarcastic, off-beat repartee exchanged between various characters, and the total effect is to make sure that one never knows what is what!
The film is full of inconsistencies—a bloody nose that disappears and then reappears within the space of seconds, hair that alternately sticks up and lays down and sticks up again, during a short walk down a hallway. Good Cat admonishes his protégé to “make it look like it ain’t what it is” and that is exactly what has been accomplished. I am not certain of exactly what I saw, but I do know that I am not interested enough to see it again. As much as I am impressed by Morgan Freeman, it would take more than his presence to make this odd film worthwhile.
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 04/07/2006] By: A. L. "Toni" Anderson
Despite the name, the number seven is apparently anything but lucky, for nearly everyone involved. The sole exception might be “world-class” assassin Good Cat a.k.a. Mr. Smith (Bruce Willis). Good Cat is a master of the Kansas City Shuffle, a diversionary tactic wherein “while everybody looks right, you go left.” The film makes so many left turns that it is close to impossible to figure out which direction to look.
The narrative portion of the film begins with a tale that is more than twenty years old, a tale of lucky numbers, and hot tips, and of hard lessons. The recipient of this tale is Nick Fisher (Sam Jaeger of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), who is somehow central to the plot of the movie, without even being around.
The major players in this twisted crime drama are “The Boss” (Morgan Freeman) and “The Rabbi” (Sir Ben Kingsley of Schindler’s List - 1993). Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels – 2000/2003) is Nick’s neighbor who develops an intense interest in S7evin. There are so many characters in and out of the plot that it is next to impossible to keep track of them all. Some of the minor characters are played by Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing - 1989) Mykelti Williamson (ATL - 2006), and Stanley Tucci (Road to Perdition - 2002) as Detective Brikowski.
The film has an eerie feel, not improved in the least by the dozens of very quirky patterns of wallpaper in the rooms where S7evin spends his time. The paper is so wild that it takes the viewer’s eye away from the ball so to speak, in effect creating a diversion of its own. Repeated flashbacks are cut into the main action with such frequency and speed that it is sometimes difficult for the mind to keep track. Add to that the sarcastic, off-beat repartee exchanged between various characters, and the total effect is to make sure that one never knows what is what!
The film is full of inconsistencies—a bloody nose that disappears and then reappears within the space of seconds, hair that alternately sticks up and lays down and sticks up again, during a short walk down a hallway. Good Cat admonishes his protégé to “make it look like it ain’t what it is” and that is exactly what has been accomplished. I am not certain of exactly what I saw, but I do know that I am not interested enough to see it again. As much as I am impressed by Morgan Freeman, it would take more than his presence to make this odd film worthwhile.
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 04/07/2006] By: A. L. "Toni" Anderson
posted by A. L. "Toni" Anderson at 6:07 PM
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