SMOKIN' ACES

Year: 2006
USA: Universal Pictures
UK: Universal Pictures UK
Cast: Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Peter Berg, Taraji Henson, Chris Pine, Martin Henderson, Jason Bateman, Common, Nestor Carbonell, Clare Carey, Zach Cumer, Kevin Durand, Christopher Michael Holley, Joel Edgerton, Mike Falkow, Eric Fellner, David Proval, Joseph Ruskin, Brian Bloom, Yvonne Koenig, Nick Fenske, Herb Santos Jr, Ryan Else, Al Woodley, Christopher Murray, James Henderson, Steve Florian, Vladimir Kulich, Paula Maurice, Maury Sterling, Karyn Dahl, Harrison Held, Patrick St. Esprit, Rizwan Manji, R Paul Wilson, David Goldsmith, Scott Halberstadt, Sheryl Chambers, Natascha Hopkins, Boni Yanagisawa, Sharon Bruneau
Director: Joe Carnahan.
Countries: USA / UK / France
USA & UK: 108 mins
USA Rated: R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some nudity and drug use
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong bloody violence
USA Release Date: 26 January 2007
UK Release Date: 12 January 2007
USA DVD Release Date: 17 April 2007



Synopsis

Seven assassins, one target, the hit goes down in this high octane dark action comedy SMOKIN' ACES from writer/director JOE CARNAHAN, the creator of NARC and BLOOD, GUTS, BULLETS AND OCTANE, which was shot entirely on location in Los Angeles.

FBI Deputy Director Stanley Locke (Andy Garcia) has just dispatched his top agent, Richard Messner (Ryan Reynolds), and Messner's veteran partner, Donald Carruthers (Ray Liotta), to Buddy "Aces" Israel's (Jeremy Piven) not-so-secret hiding spot in Lake Tahoe. Their mission is to protect the sleazy Vegas magician from mob boss Primo Sparazza, who is rumoured to have performed over 130 contract murders upon whom Aces has agreed to turn state's evidence to save his own skin.

As the mob learns of his betrayal, they put a million-dollar bounty on Aces' head. They don't care who does him, just as long as he gets dead quick. Now, a wild menagerie of mercenaries, mass murderers and gorgeous guns-for-hire descend on Tahoe to locate Aces and collect that money...no matter who gets in their way.

Thugs from Sparazza's tight inner circle have bought their own insurance policy in the form of ghetto fab glam assassins Georgia Sykes (Alicia Keys) and her partner, sniper Sharice Watters (Taraji Henson). A psychopathic trio neo-Nazi inbreeds known as the Tremor brothers sniff cash like bloodhounds and have made haste to Tahoe as well. Darwin (Chris Pine), Jeeves (Kevin Durand) and Lestor Tremor (Maury Serling) have nothing resembling a conscience, and they use their limited brainpower to murder anyone who stands in the way of a big payday. In addition to this two international hit men, including ruthless torture specialist Pasquale Acosta (Nestor Carbonell) and master of disguise Lazlo Soot (Tommy Flanagan), are bringing their uniquely twisted blend of skills to Tahoe.

To complicate matters, bottom-of-the-barrel Vegas bail bondsman Jack Dupree (Ben Affleck) accepts a $50,000 retainer from attorney Rupert "Rip" Reed (Jason Bateman) to find the bail-jumping Aces before he gets handed over to the FBI...and the quarry is gone for good. Dupree recruits disillusioned ex-vice cop "Pistol" Pete Deeks (Peter Berg) and his former partner, Hollis Elmore (Martin Henderson), to help wrangle Aces. The good news is they're only a short, three-hour drive from Tahoe.

The question is: who is going to get to Aces first?

In the eye of the storm and trying to stay one step ahead of their boss' trouble are Sir Ivy (Common), Ace's steadfast second-in-command, and his thickheaded bodyguard, Hugo Croop (Joel Edgerton). But while the magician's henchmen try to protect him from the onslaught of killers, Agents Messner and Carruthers begin to uncover the truth behind Aces' real role in bringing down the mob.

And nothing that surrounds Buddy Israel has ever been what it appears to be...

DVD EXTRAS - Region 1

COWBOY ENDING - ALTERNATE ENDING: Experience the climax of the movie in a new way with this explosive alternate ending
SHOOT 'EM UP: STUNTS AND EFFECTS: Uncover the secrets behind Smokin' Aces' startlingly realistic gunfights and sensational stunts.
THE LINE UP: Get to know more about Smokin' Aces rogues' gallery of lethal ladies, degenerate psychopaths, bounty hunters and eager assassins by cutting the virtual cards in this exciting interactive feature!
THE BIG GUN: Smokin' Aces sprang from the off-beat, high-stakes imagination of red-hot action director and writer Joe Carnahan. Meet the man who created the edgy and enthralling world of "Aces" Israel and his cohorts.
FEATURE COMMENTARY with Writer and Director Joe Carnahan and Editor Robert Farazen
FEATURE COMMENTARY with Writer and Director Joe Carnahan and film actors Common (Sir Ivy), Christopher Holley (Beanie) and Zach Cumer (Warren)