25th Hour
The Players: Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper,
Rosario Dawson, Anna Paquin; directed by Spike Lee.
The Skinny: Monty Brogan (Norton) has only a short time before he
begins serving a seven-year jail term for drug dealing. He chooses to spend
the next 24 hours with his girlfriend (Dawson) and two best friends (Pepper
and Hoffman). Wandering through the city until dawn with his friends, Monty
is forced to re-examine his life and confront the lifestyle that led him to
this disastrous predicament.
The Bottom Line: On the surface, the films sounds like a real yawner.
Honestly, walking around with friends all night, pontificating about life?
Boringggg. But once you realize the talent behind it–Lee, Norton,
Hoffman–you become intrigued at the possibilities. Perhaps
Spike will finally get his due.
Opens: Dec. 19
