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Sir Ben Kingsley and Morgan Freeman as gangsters? That is enough reason right there to see a flick. Add to that Bruce Willis as a hit man, Josh Hartnett as a fast talking middleman, Stanley Tucci as a relentless detective and Lucy Liu as the neighbor in search of a mystery and what you have is a very fast paced, clever drama that is a cool ride.

In a case of mistaken identity Slevin (Josh Hartnett) has been asked to meet “The Boss” (Freeman) who wants him to help fulfill a vendetta against a rival gangster, “The Rabbi” (Kingsley).  Slevin has no idea why he has been thrown into this situation so he begins to play one side against the other as he tries to stay alive long enough to figure out the whys. An assassin by the name of Mr. Goodkat (Willis) is the hired hit man brought in to make sure everything goes as planned.

I had a blast at this movie. What's hip about Slevin is that you never truly know who's who or what is going on. Yet it’s easy to follow without ever giving anything away. The writing is total tongue in cheek providing the characters with quick banter that is hard and fast. Each role is unique and well defined. In a movie like this it is always helpful to have elements that set it a part from all the others. This film stood out to me. There was something simple about it but at the same time it was catchy. Like the following exchange between Slevin and Lindsey (Lucy Liu)

Slevin: They call him the Rabbi.
Lindsey: Why is that?
Slevin: Because he's a Rabbi

Simple, but so catchy. At least to me.

Willis is on a marathon pace after his better than average performance in 16 Blocks plus setting a run for the May release of Over the Hedge. He wears the assassin hat well and I mean, come on, Mr. Goodkat is just a cool name. Surprisingly Hartnett, who I usually can do without, makes me enjoy him in this one. Having two quiet, reserved men of composure like Freeman and Kingsley playing mob bosses intrigued me. It added a sophistication and maturity to the entire project. And let’s not forget Lucy Liu who always comes in under the comedic radar but she has a style of delivery and expression that is top notch and often overlooked.

If you have seen any of the trailers you have caught some of the snappy dialogue but there is still plenty of wit to get you through the 109 minutes of film. My wife Cindy commented, and I quote, “The wit was overdone, it would be like going to work one day and everybody is witty.” And granted all the people in the movie who stay alive for any length of time have pretty quick-thinking verbal skills. I see her point but I personally have no problem with that. Also I appreciated the element of surprise. Maybe I am just clueless but I was guessing the entire time. In the world of crime dramas, that’s not a bad deal.

Slevin is rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language. This is a mobster movie and so the language is as expected. If you are offended by blood, blasphemy or bad guys then this isn’t for you. Granted it’s no Inside man but if you want a decent movie with action, humor and twists; you will find yourself lucky. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. With a look at Slevin, I’ m Matt Mungle

The Mungle (4/03/06)

Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com