’25th Hour’ Reviewed in ‘Picture This!’

‘Your time is up!’

By Rebecca Redshaw

Reprinted from NotesFromHollywood.com

You can almost hear an unseen warden in the background over the loudspeaker announcing, “Your time is up!”

Convicted drug dealer, Montgomery Brogan (Ed Norton) has exactly one day before he’s required to turn himself in to a New York prison upstate. He has trouble expressing his feelings about this. That’s believable. Most men stumble over their emotions on a good day and by any stretch of the imagination, this is not a good day for Monty.

He’s leaving behind a gorgeous girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), two childhood friends, Jakob and Frank (Phillip Seymore Hoffman and Barry Pepper), and a very cool, faithful dog named Doyle. Monty’s not sure who turned him into the DEA and that troubles him. Everyone wants him to think Naturelle done him wrong, a feeling he doesn’t want to believe, but just can’t shake.

But more upsetting than that possible betrayal is what he knows awaits him for the next six years. Monty is sure that he won’t do well in the big house. He’s way too pretty. Cute worked well for him dealing on the street, but he’s dreading what he knows will happen when the lights go out at bedtime twenty-four hours from now.

“25th Hour” was adapted by the author of the book, David Benioff, and his dialogue rings true. Even if you’ve never been to New York City, you get the feeling that’s how guys from the neighborhood talk. As different as the three childhood friends are as adults, their loyalty to their youth plays to the end.

Spike Lee directs this incredible ensemble with a sensitive hand. Even at 134 minutes, you somehow find yourself hoping the day/movie won’t end for Monty’s sake. Lee’s assembled a first rate cast with nary a weak link in the bunch, making this one of his most powerful pictures.

[Note to Lee: “Please, baby, please” kill the film overlay gimmick of the main character remaining stationary while the backdrop moves. It’s become a distraction.]

Not long ago, Time Magazine named Sean Penn America’s premiere actor. At the time I thought, “Oh, yeah? What about Johnny Depp? After viewing “25th Hour”, I feel like shouting, “Look out, you guys. Ed Norton isn’t going to the big house, he’s going to the head of that list.”