~~REVIEW~~

Smokin' Aces
****

Starring: Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends, Waiting...), Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Dogma), Alicia Keys, Andy Garcia (Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12), and Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Identity)

From writer/director Joe Carnahan comes an action film about ten hitmen out for one man's heart...literally.

Buddy "Aces" Isreal (Piven) is a once-successful magician and playing-card extraordinaire, hence the name "Aces." Not only was Israel a magician, but he dabbled in the mafia business as well. Because of this, a $1 Million hit has been put out on his head and his heart. Beacuse of this, he is hiding out in a casino with his bodyguards. Because Isreal is a main factor in the business, he has the power to shut down a huge mafia organization. Two FBI agents (Reynolds and Liotta) are sent to retrieve him before anyone can get their hands on him (and his heart).

Andy Garcia plays FBI Deputy Stanley Locke.
Alicia Keys plays killer-for-hire Georgia Sykes.
Ben Affleck plays bail bondsman Jack Dupree.

::WHAT I THINK::

Very few times does a film come around that I call "explosive." Smokin' Aces is one of them. This is a high-octane movie with a key characteristic: Soul. With writing that actually excites you and enough hitman blood to go around, this is highly enjoyable.