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 25th Hour (2002)Rated: R for strong language and some violence. Runtime: 135 mins. Director: Spike Lee Writer: David Benioff (novel); David Benioff (screenplay) Cast: Edward Norton; Phillip Seymour Hoffman; Barry Pepper...complete cast Genre: Drama Tagline: Can you change your whole life in a day? Release Date: January 10, 2003 Memorable quote: "You kissed your student? Who are you, R Kelly?"
Confused about what happened in the ending of 25th Hour? Click here to read the 25th Hour plot explanation. (spoiler alert!)
With 25th Hour, Spike Lee has taken a bright screenplay and made it his own. It is Lee's personal little interpretation that he held close to his heart and gave back to us as his private tribute to New York City. A city rocked by the 9/11 tragedy is the appropriate setting of a story about a man rocked by an arrest despite his recent decision to get out of the drug-trafficking racket. The story, by David Benioff (adapted from his own novel), fans out over the course of one day and one night. We follow drug-dealer Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) on his last day before he is to turn himself in to begin serving a seven-year drug-trafficking sentence. The cops knew he was a dealer and somehow knew exactly where the drugs were hidden. More on that later. Although he is a dealer, we feel a genuine sympathy towards Monty. His upper-Eastside apartment is immaculate; he's well read; and he speaks with an educated candor that makes us wonder where his life made the wrong turn. Regardless, tonight is his last night of freedom. What follows is a sprawling tale about Monty's last hours of freedom. We meet many of his friends and family members at one last party, giving everyone a final chance to say their goodbyes. Among the attendees are his beautiful Latina girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) and his two best buds, Francis (Barry Pepper), a lucrative bond trader and Jakob (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), who teaches at the school they all attended while growing up. The party is thrown in a rented nightclub, giving us many atmosphere changes as the camera follows Monty's many conversations with his well-wishers. Monty and his friends use the evening to contemplate their lives, set things straight and to wonder how they all took such different career paths. Among these conversations, was Francis' theory as to who ratted out Monty. His theory was the same as mine. Norton, Hoffman and Pepper are three of Hollywood's finest performers going right now and they maintain that status with their portrayals in 25th Hour. Edward Norton plays a man who's able to realize the errors of his past yet has no future to prove his newly declared fulfillment. Hoffman is the self-repentant introvert who now must face the fact that he just kissed one of his female students played by the sexy Anna Paquin. Pepper is convincing as the devious Wall Street trader who up until now has kept his feelings inside. Rounding out the cast is Brian Cox as Monty's father, the owner of a struggling pub who blames himself for Monty's problems. In 25th Hour souls are bared, exposing raw nerves that flinch when touched. None of the central characters is blameless and Benioff's searing dialogue comes in large healthy portions delivered with genuine passion. Appropriately, the World Trade Center clean-up site serves as a backdrop. The entire city's soul was uncovered by the 9/11 tragedy, and yet while New Yorkers came out of the disaster with their pride and dignity intact, the same can't be said for many of our central characters. Spike Lee is a masterful filmmaker and 25th Hour is one of his best. This movie contains all the elements that will make it fail at the box office, yet simultaneously find a home in my heart: great acting; a deep and meaningful script; multi-layered characters; and a heart-felt message about New Yorkers specifically and humans in general. Frank Wilkins Read and post comments about 25th Hour here Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1; Closed Captioned
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