Review of 25th Hour (2002) by Norbert D — 22 Aug 2011

Most people that I know wouldnâ(TM)t be familiar with Spike Lee and his movies only if they hear me blabbing on about him. Spike Lee is one of my favourite filmmakers and I have recently got into his movies over the last three years. His movies always have some sort of message to them whether it is about colour, prejudice or race. Like Oliver Stone, he can get really in your face with the political message of his movies. He can often be a little over the top and that has occasionally given him a bit of bad press. I think heâ(TM)s a fantastic filmmaker and his movies are brilliant. He is a great storyteller. His early films have introduced actors who have gone off to have successful careers like John Turturro who was in Do the Right Thing, Rosie Perez who was also in Do the Right Thing, Mekhi Phifer who was in Clockers, Halle Berry who was in Jungle Fever and also Samuel L Jackson who was in School Daze, Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever where he received his first Academy Award Nomination. I have seen most of his films and all of them I have hugely enjoyed and left a great impact on me. Malcolm X was the first one I saw and showed that Denzel Washington is a fine actor and one of the four collaborations he had with Spike. He Got Game another Denzel and Spike movie was the second film I saw and Spike portrayed how bad sports corruption can be on star players with a father and son plot at the heart of the story. Clockers was the next one I saw and this can be seen as a prequel to the remarkable HBO Show, The Wire and showed how drugs and crime can destroy black project neighbourhoods and undermine itâ(TM)s youths. After Clockers came Do the Right Thing and this is widely claimed to be Spike Leeâ(TM)s best movie and I would have to agree with them and I would also have to say that 25th Hour is also one of his best movies. 25th Hour the movie Iâ(TM)m about to talk about now is one of my favourites along with Do the Right Thing and Clockers. 25th Hour was the one that I really thought was where he was doing something different and doing something a bit more personal to him. The movie not only is a crime film but also is a tribute to New York and all its citizens who are still in mourning after the horror of 9/11.

When watching this film you can really see how much of New York has changed since 9/11 even though you canâ(TM)t see it. Itâ(TM)s like a completely different place. The opening credits of the movie shows the big lights they put up in memoriam of the Twin Towers. Sets the mood for the film. One scene in the movie and is one of the most powerful scenes in the movie along with Edward Nortonâ(TM)s explicit mirror rant is where Barry Pepper and Phillip Seymour Hoffman have a very heated conversation about their friend in front of a window that shows Ground Zero in the background. Itâ(TM)s a five-minute one-shot scene where Barry Pepper throws out all his anger and frustration over Edward Nortonâ(TM)s predicament and the choices he made in life. Itâ(TM)s a very beautiful and moving scene.

The movie is about the choices you make and the life you lead and the consequences of your actions. Edward Norton plays Montgomery Brogan, a drug dealer recently nabbed by the Drug Enforcement Agency with ties to the Russian Mob, is celebrating his last day of freedom before he goes to jail for seven years in Otisville. He has many things he needs to do and needs to do them quick as the clock is ticking. He needs to have one last meal with his ex-fireman father and have drinks with his close friends outgoing investment banker Frank Slaughtery played by Barry Pepper and quiet dorky Jacob Elinsky played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and girlfriend Naturelle played by Rosario Dawson, who may or may not have ratted him out to the DEA. Monty spends most of time thinking over the past and worried about his coming prison sentence. He feels that he will be beaten and raped in prison and feels apart from his girlfriend Naturelle. Jacob is going through his problems where he is feeling attracted to one of his English students played by True Blood star Anna Paquin. Frank is going through his own problems at work at his bank and also hurting over his friends prison sentence. He tries to pretend that heâ(TM)s cool but inside heâ(TM)s upset and feels his friend fucked up and deserves it. Brain Cox plays Montyâ(TM)s father and he has love for his son and is not disappointed with his actions. At the end of the day Monty will go through many things that will result in a very powerful and moving ending.

First off the writing is incredible. Well written and has good pacing. David Benioff wrote the script and adapted it from his own book. The acting is incredible and Edward Norton gives a great performance. He is very underrated in my opinion and doesnâ(TM)t get much attention. I mean he has done some amazing movies like American History X, Fight Club, Red Dragon and Primal Fear. Heâ(TM)s a great actor. Barry Pepper is also great in this movie and he is also highly underrated as well. Phillip Seymour Hoffman shows why heâ(TM)s always good at playing lovable losers. I think this was sort of his last loser kind of role and heâ(TM)s gone off to play more dramatic roles like in Before the Devil knows Your Dead, Charlie Wilsonâ(TM)s War and Capote where he was awarded an Oscar. He is good in this and heâ(TM)s also one of my favourite actors. The cinematography is brilliant and Spike Lee is really good with camera work and does very interesting camera angles. The music also adds to the powerful story. Jazz Musician Terence Blanchard offers a dramatic orchestral jazzy soundtrack that adds to the dramatic story line and gives the movie a very great atmosphere.

25th hour is one of my favourite films and has all that a great film needs. A great story line, a well-written script and also great acting to boot. Go buy this film. It really is fantastic.

A.H.