Smokin' Aces (2006, USA/GBR/FRA) C-109m. SCOPE **½ D: Joe Carnahan. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Joseph Ruskin, Alex Rocco, Wayne Newton, Jeremy Piven, Alicia Keys, Ben Affleck, Peter Berg, Martin Henderson, Common, Christopher Holley, Andy Garcia, Jason Bateman, Chris Pine, Tommy Flanagan, Curtis Armstrong. Pretty crazy gangster thriller about Las Vegas entertainer Piven, who's about to testify against the mafia, who want him dead and will give anyone who kills him one million dollars. Needless to say, there's bounty hunters, assassins and contract killers all closing in on his penthouse on Lake Tahoe. Cool, extremely violent thriller keeps you watching, but there's not much plot behind the countless shoot-outs. Written by the director.


© Ron Altman