DVD Review: 25th Hour (A-)

25th Hour (2002)
Directed by Spike Lee
Starring Edward Norton, Rosario Dawson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox, Barry Pepper and Anna Paquin
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Without a doubt, 25th Hour is Spike Lee's most even paced, confident and slickest film to date. It is also his best.

Based on the successful book by David Benioff (he also wrote the screenplay), 25th Hour is an absorbing tale of one man's last night of freedom. Edward Norton plays Monty Brogran, an Irish kid that's made a lot of money as a street smart drug dealer for the Russian mob. Sentenced to 7 years in prison, he has one night left to meet with friends and family.

Monty plans a going away party with his friends (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Pepper) and his girlfriend (Rosario Dawson). As the evening wears on and the time of reckoning grows near, he tries to piece together the events that have brought him to this point. Where did he go wrong? Did his girl set him up? Who can he trust?

On the surface, 25th Hour is an engaging drama about Monty Brogran sorting out his life, but Spike Lee takes things a little deeper than that. The film is set in New York in the 9-11 aftermath, and characters all seem to be sorting out who they are in this new framework. With seven years of trauma ahead for his son, Monty's father (the wonderful Brian Cox) beats himself up with regret, blaming himself for the problems that have led to Monty's situation. Everyone in this movie second guesses the paths they have chosen in life. The question here seems to be: If given another shot, would they make different choices?

Spike Lee has a tendency to hammer home his endings with little subtlety, but that is not the case here. 25th Hour has an ending that is powerful without being heavy handed. Spike Lee's 25th Hour is a wonderful movie and is highly recommended.

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