I caught this earlier today at a matinee showing.
Overall it was pretty good!
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Here's the plot summary:
"In these interlocking tales of high stakes and low lifes, Mob boss Primo Sparazza has taken out a hefty contract on Buddy "Aces" Israel (Piven)--a sleazy magician who has agreed to turn state's evidence against the Vegas mob. The FBI, sensing a chance to use this small-time con to bring down big-target Sparazza, places Aces into protective custody-under the supervision of two agents (Reynolds and Liotta) dispatched to Aces' Lake Tahoe hideout. When word of the price on Aces' head spreads into the community of ex-cons and cons-to-be, it entices bounty hunters, thugs-for-hire, smokin' hot vixens and double-crossing mobsters to join in the hunt. With all eyes on Tahoe, this rogues' gallery collides in a comic race to hit the jackpot and rub out Aces."---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a gritty hard edged film with some really funny bits thrown in.
Joe Carnahan must be a protege of Tony Scott because their directing styles are very similar.
The film, the characters and it's look will instantly remind you of "True Romance".
Especially the end, when everyone is trying to get up to that hotel suite to kill Buddy Israel...wonderfully played by Jeremy Piven.
There are some off the wall characters in this film and as we meet each one, a caption appears that gives their name and what they do for a living.
Some are mercenaries, some are F.B.I. agents, some are bail bondsmen etc...
And they all want a piece of the huge bounty that's been placed on Buddy's head.
Except for the bail bondsmen, who need to get to Israel first so they can escort him into protective custody.
There's a pair of black women who are killers for hire and pack some serious firepower...
There's a trio of totally insane brothers called The Tremors who use machetes, guns, grenades and even chainsaws to get the kill.
There's even an assasin who kills his victims and then makes masks from their faces to change his appearence.
He's played by Tommy Flanagan , the guy with the scar on his face who was in Braveheart.
In the middle of all this is the F.B.I. who want to keep Israel alive because they need him to testify against the mob boss.
Here's Ryan Reynolds as Agent Messner getting shot at by the woman with the .50 caliber rifle. He actually turns in a pretty good performance in this movie.
If you like lots of gunfire, blood, violence and general mayhem, you'll probably like this film.
I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 4 and a big