Smokin’ Aces (2007) 6/10

Starring : Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Davenia McFadden, Joseph Ruskin, Nestor Carbonell, Ben Affleck, Peter Berg
Director : John Carnahan
Running Time : 109 mins

Dying mob boss Primo Sparazza (Ruskin) puts a contract on the head of his one-time protégé Buddy "Aces" Israel (Piven), a Las Vegas magician who is due to testify against him. The $1 million contract draws the attention of a large number of hired guns, as well as the FBI, and they soon start trampling each other to get to their target.

This could have been a lot better, but then it could have been a lot worse. Piven plays the troubled Buddy Israel with aplomb, going from manic to depressive at the drop of a hat, but with such a great ensemble cast I expected so much more.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Departed