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Amazon.co.uk Review
A frantic and frequently amusing cocktail of Tarantino cool and Hong Kong bullet ballet, Joe (Narc) Carnahan's Smokin' Aces delivers some inspired moments of action and dark comedy in its dizzying-comic book plot about a rogue's gallery of killers on the hunt for a mob informer. At the core of Carnahan's bloody shaggy-dog tale is Buddy Israel (Jeremy Piven, offering a more desperate take on his standard hustler persona), a Vegas magician who's turned informant against the mobsters who have treated him as their personal entertainment. Wishing to close Buddy's overactive mouth permanently, the mob capo puts a bounty on the two-bit showman's head, and a horde of hitmen descends on Buddy's digs to claim the prize.

The unholy crew of gunmen offer the movie's most inspired (and outlandish) moments, with R&B singer Alicia Keys (as a cool, Foxy Brown-esque assassin), Nestor Carbonell (as a torture-minded sadist), Ben Affleck and Peter Berg (low-key bail bondsmen) and Chris Pine (the leader of a trio of semi-savage brothers) among the more memorable villains. Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, and Andy Garcia represent the other side of the coin as FBI agents determined to get to Buddy before the legion of doom, and the clashes between both factions produce some eye-popping gunplay. If there's any complaint to be made about Smokin' Aces, it's that the tone shifts between action-drama and hipster comedy feel forced (Carnahan struck a firmer balance between the two in his 1998 indie effort, Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane), but the performances and shootout set pieces, as well as Carnahan's hyperactive camera work, do much to make those transitions palatable. Eagle-eyed audience members will note the presence veteran scene stealers Curtis Armstrong (Ray), David Proval (The Sopranos), and Alex Rocco (The Godfather's Moe Green) in supporting roles. -- Paul Gaita

Synopsis
Fresh from his success with ENTOURAGE, Jeremy Piven gives his career a further boost by taking the lead role in director Joe Carnahan's (NARC) fast-paced thriller, SMOKING ACES. Piven plays Buddy 'Aces' Israel, a former Vegas performer who has holed up in the penthouse suite of a Lake Tahoe casino after what seems like half the planet decides they want him dead. The reason for this bloodlust stems from Israel's dalliances with the mob, who have put a $1 million price tag on his head after discovering he is about to tell all to the feds. The only people who don't want to put a premature end to Israel's life are two FBI agents, played by Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta, and their boss, Andy Garcia. As various assassins attempt to put an end to Israel's pitiful existence, a parade of celebrity cameos ensues, including Alicia Keys, Common, Ben Affleck, and Jason Bateman. Carnahan soaks the screen with vivid primary colours, lots of flashy set pieces, and plenty of guns and violence as his movie thunders from one explosive scene to the next. The shooting style, script, and acting are all highly indebted to Quentin Tarantino's early works, and the impressive ensemble cast will ensure plenty of PULP FICTION comparisons. Standout performances come courtesy of Piven and Liotta, with the former revelling in a character surrounded by burly bodyguards, cheap hookers, and a blizzard of cocaine as he sweats and paces around his penthouse hideout, ultimately awaiting either freedom or death as the movie nears its spectacular finale.

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28 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:  (7) 2 star:  (7) 1 star:  (7)           Average Customer Review (28 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: smokin aces, 9 May 2007 By  R. Fisher "entertainment lover" (west midlands uk) - See all my reviews    Narc director Joe Carnahan's follow up is a rip roaring action spectacle though if you were expecting a gritty down to earth Narc style film then you're in for something completely different. When a sleazy Vegas showman turns FBI snitch a hit is placed on his head for one million dollars by a mob boss, placed in protective custody at a penthouse hide out assassins from all over take aim trying to walk away a million richer. The action set pieces are very well directed & very exciting, laced over with a beating soundtrack great twist ending some very good performances from the main leads what you get is a great night in as long as you don't take it to seriously. If you're an action fan make sure to keep smokin aces in your sights.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   5 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Messy, derivative nonsense, 28 Aug 2007 By  Franklin T Marmoset - See all my reviews    When Las Vegas showman Buddy 'Aces' Israel decides to turn informant, the mafia puts a million dollar bounty on his head. Next thing you know, a bunch of assassin types with wacky gimmicks descend on sin city intent on collecting Buddy's scalp as well as the big bucks reward. Then, a whole mess of stuff happens, some of which involves chainsaws, but none of which is particularly interesting. After making such an assured debut with Narc, it's a little disappointing to see writer/director Joe Carnahan follow up it up with such a sloppy, insecure effort. Carnahan sets his sights squarely on the Quentin Tarantino/Guy Ritchie pseudo-cool crime