Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Tagline: Wrong Time. Wrong Place. Wrong Number.
Plot: Directed by Paul McGuigan, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN is a mistaken identity thriller starring Josh Hartnett as a guy who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. With boldly colored sets covered in graphic wallpaper, the film has an almost comicbook-like feel, the emphasis being on visual entertainment rather than believability. When Slevin (Hartnett) shows up at his friend Nick’s apartment in Manhattan, Nick is nowhere to be found. After meeting Nick’s sharp and flirty neighbor, Lindsey (Lucy Liu), Slevin is kidnapped by two thugs and taken to meet the Boss (Morgan Freeman). Explaining that he is not Nick gets him nowhere, as the Boss and his arch rival, the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley), both pull Slevin (a wiseguy who spends much of the film in a lavender towel) deeper and deeper into a complicated underworld of murder and revenge. The clever dialogue and romance that grows between Hartnett and Liu gives the film a lighthearted charm. Even when orchestrating cold-blooded murder, the film’s lead villains never seem too threatening. This is due in large part to the strong tongue-in-cheek performances of Bruce Willis, Ben Kingsley, and Morgan Freeman.Many of the film’s plot twists rely on camera tricks and quick editing, which are used to deliberately confuse the viewer. While the
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 Unfortunately, director Paul McGuigan tries to make it all serious at the end, and this isn't the kind of story that should be taken seriously. If the filmmakers had accepted the strength of their materials, they could have turned out a considerably better film.  --Jeremy Mathews (FilmThreat.com)
With such a quality troupe of actors, it's hard to go go wrong, and admittedly, there are good laughs and moments of genuine tension, making this a surprisingly effective little suspense vehicle for long stretches at a time. If you can look past the overcooked deceptions in the plot, plenty is here to admire, making Lucky Number Slevin worth a serious look for a fun and suspenseful mystery with touch of tongue-in-cheek flair. --Vince Leo (Qwipster.net)
...the film isn't as light on its feet as it should be. It's often so enamored of its own cleverness that it starts to feel bloated and overlong. Something this well-thought-out ought to be just a little smoother. B---Eric D. Snider (EricDSnider.com)
Enjoyable thriller featuring colourful, offbeat performances and a sharply written script that’s packed with snappy one-liners. --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon)
A fast-paced, funny riff on film noir and thriller-mysteries that leaves your head spinning.--Kirk Honeycutt (Hollywod Reporter)
As twisty thrillers of the genre go, this one is more than passable. Overanalyzation can spoil the fun - this is the kind of movie with which it's best to go with the flow. I adore movies that can confound my expectations, and this one succeeded. Kudos to Lucky Number Slevin on that score. Warts and all, this deserves nothing less than a solid recommendation.  --James Berardinelli (ReelViews)
It's funny and well put together and while it does occasionally out-clever itself, it's still very good.--Joshua Starnes (ComingSoon.net)
The most original movie I've seen in a long time! A definite must-see film you will not be disappointed in.  --Steven Chupnick (MovieWeb)
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| Credit director Paul McGuigan, screenwriter Jason Smilovic, and the entire cast for bringing this tightly wound, intricately constructed thriller to life. Lucky Number Slevin is a pleasant surprise and a film you might not mind sitting through more than once to pick up things you didn't catch the first time around. B+ --Rebecca Murray (About.com)
The final 15 minutes of “Slevin” are devoted to McGuigan flat-out explaining the plot to the audience, which is now divided into two camps: those that have no desire to learn the “truth” in the first place, and those who figured it out in the opening reel because Josh Hartnett is incapable of a performance that requires a character to convey the illusion of ingenuity.  --Brian Orndorf (eFilmCritic.com)
It's a good mix of humor and danger and it provides a strong dark comedy without losing tension....There have been several good dark comedies in the past year; The Matador, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Ice Harvest. Lucky Number Slevin can now be added to that list. --Scott Nash (TheMovieBuffs.com)
... No matter whether you enjoy this movie or not, I can’t imagine anyone with any kind of moral compass walking out of it and not feeling at least vaguely uncomfortable with what they’ve just seen. 5/10--Tony Medley (TonyMedley.com)
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