MOVIE REVIEW: Smokin' Aces

They just don't make action movies like they used to. Director Joe Carnahan is trying really hard to bring back the gore splattering nonsensical glorified action movie back to theatres and damn did he succeed hard core. The dialogue was crisp and funny. There were more than enough name celebrities from Jeremy Piven to Ray Liotta, and of course some of them don't make it out alive. It's refreshing to see a trailer on TV say to yourself this is going to be an hour and a half of smooth talking machine gun blowing mindless violence, and you actually get what you expected from start to finish. Of course this is not some think piece or even a suspense thriller aimed to keep you guessing. It is a true popcorn flick and you must prepare yourself for this as you step into the theatre. Once that's done, you'll enjoy it for all the madness it provides. Especially the zany antics of Jason Bateman, he truly steals this show.

So, Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) is a Las Vegas performer who wants to be a gangster. He gets in too deep with the Waste Management boys and of course as the previews suggest they want to Smoke his ass for being a government stoolie. The open contract on Aces brings out some very interesting crews, good and bad. You have your trio of crazed Nazi hit men called the Tremors (Maury Sterling, Kevin Durand and Chris Pine). You have the lesbian duo hit team of Georgia (Alicia Keys) and Sharice (Tariji P. Henson). The Latin torturer and hit man, Pasquale (Nestor Carbonell). Of course my favorite Lazlo Soot (Tommy Flanagan) the cloak and dagger hit man. Throw in three Bail Bondsmen (Ben Affleck, Peter Berg and Martin Henderson) and two Feds Carruthers (Ray Liotta) and Messner (Ryan Reynolds) and you have yourself a smorgasbord of destruction.

Not to mention appearances by Andy Garcia, Jason Bateman, Booger from Revenge of the Nerds, (Curtis Armstrong) the rapper Common and Matthew Fox. Pretty loaded and very fun so check this one out if you go in looking to have a good time and of course if you don't get squeamish when you see a lot of blood and really random violence.

Grade: 4 Buckets