2.0 out of 5 stars
Boring and unrealistic., Jan 3 2004
This film, directed by legendary racist and "Whitey-hater" Spike Lee, and starring Edward Norton, is about a guy. Now, this isn't some regular guy, this is a guy with a pretty bad-@ss goatee. This automatically makes him awesome.
Anyway...Edward Norton's character is being sent to prison for seven years. He has one last day to enjoy his freedom. Now, in real life the police would automatically take the man into custody and arrest him, but in Spike Lee's fantasy land, Norton's character gets one last day to do whatever he wants, whether that be to leave the country or to go on a murderous rampage. Norton's character, however, decides just to meet with his friends for a pretty lame party.
Really, the ONLY good things in this movie are the ending and Norton's scene where he rants to himself while looking in the mirror.
I give The 25th Hour two stars.
**
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, April 1 2005
I watched this blind. I missed all the hype of it's theatrical release so, maybe that helped me enjoy the film? But, I must say this is amazing. I am not going to fill this review with all of my experience or know how. For a major North American release this is a modern master piece! The only reason I can think of why not to like this would be high or different expectations. Blame media hype. You can't really expect something from a film you haven't seen...It is simply put: Not art but drama
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This IS the best movie I have ever seen, and I've seen a few, Jun 19 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: 25th Hour (VHS Tape)
25th Hour... A lot of people have already posted reviews of this movie. Some loved it, some hated it. I am in the first category- although it is dark, tense and slow-paced, 25th Hour riveted me from the first scene, where Monty Brogan rescues the abused dog.
I love Edward Norton. Not only is he an incredibly talented actor, but I find his looks very appealing. He's not a pretty boy or a hunk, yet he has major appeal, and yes, he has definitely got a nice build. But most importantly, he has a way of using facial expressions that is irresistable. Fight Club was a great movie, and he is a great actor, but this has to be his finest work to date. I bought 25th Hour because he stars in it, and I loved it because he made the movie. It was well directed in my opinion, and the supporting cast were wonderful, but if it had starred anyone else, 25th Hour would likely have been something not worth watching. Even a well directed film with a great supporting cast can fail if the lead is miscast. In this case, casting was spot-on.
Edward Norton IS Monty Brogan for 25th Hour.
If for just a few scenes, this movie would be worth watching- Monty's f*ck-you rant to the mirror in the bathroom of his father's bar, the scene where his apartment is searched by the DEA, the interrogation scene, the scene between Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) and Francis (Barry Pepper), the 'make me ugly scene'- these scenes could have made a mediocre movie great. But the movie was already great- these scenes made it unforgettable. I watch it once, and as the end credits roll I immediately want to watch it again. That is what denotes a great movie- I'll never tire of 25th Hour. And on top of everything else this movie has the all time BEST pick-up scene- the 18 year old Catholic school girl-looking Naturelle meets for the first time that cute older Irish guy, Monty Brogan.
I think Rosario Dawson was underrated in this film- she comes across to me as a caring girlfriend, and she proves herself as a GREAT actress when she portrays the younger Naturelle- that WAS an 18 year old girl we were seeing. Plus her scene at the club with Barry Pepper is really great.
I bought 25th Hour sight unseen because Edward Norton was in it, and ended up getting the best movie I've yet seen. I intend to buy the DVD as soon as I can. Buy this film. Don't listen to those who will try to discredit it, it is a great movie and a wonderful vehicle for the acting talents of our Edward Norton.
Chornyi
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