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I just watched Joe Carnahan’s “Smokin’ Aces” with the director’s commentary. I am such a whore for film commentaries. You get such an insight into the way the flick was filmed, and you get to humanise the guys who made the film. I’ve always been a bigger fan of the writers and directors than I have the actors, probably because with a mug like mine I have a way better change of getting behind the lens than I do in front of it. Unless they’ve started making flicks about hairy as hell guys who have no really attractive qualities. I have watched tons of commentaries and I always like the ones where the filmmakers are funny, interesting and talkative. I was impressed with Joe Carnahan.
To put it into context, when I first saw Smokin’ Aces at the flicks I liked it. I thought it was a little uneven but it was definitely on the side of good. I just felt that the sum parts did not justify the whole. Carnahan’s idea that this entertainer, like Sinatra, started rolling with the mob and then decided he wanted to step up a level was a great starting set up. Then having a crew of assassins all fall on this guy makes for lots of possibilities; possibilities that I was not exactly sure were completely used to full effect.
Upon a second screening I think it works a lot better. Perhaps I went into it thinking it would be more of a funny crime caper flick, when that’s not really it. It is its own beast. Listening to Carnahan talk about the film is interesting, he seems like a quality bloke who just chats openly about his project. You get a feel like he is at a pub. He drops references to other flicks and he knows his shit, but not in an erudite or snooty way, just as a guy who likes movies.
It’s good to see a filmmaker who you like. Someone that you have personal respect for, you want to see them do well. I know Carnahan was looking into doing some comic book work, and he wrote a short comic for the DVD of Smokin’ Aces, and I would be interested to see what he could do. His next flick, Killing Pablo, about Pablo Escobar, should be an interesting project.
Thinking about the film now, and all its pieces, I’m liking it more. Ryan Reynolds is a solid actor, I really think he will only continue to get better. The Tremor Brothers are just interesting, visually, musically, scarily. It’s always nice to see Affleck, even if only briefly, he rocks the ‘stache out. Jeremy Piven shows just how slimy he can get, gold. I think the movie has enough in it to warrant a screening, and after hearing how and why Carnahan did what he did I have more respect for the movie. Even the parts that didn’t work, I appreciate what he was going for.

Not to mention Jason Bateman’s brilliant cameo. Bones, lock it, put the chain on it.

Posted on April 5th, 2008 by ryan
Filed under: movies