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"LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN"
(2006) (Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Mild Extreme Extreme Moderate Extreme
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild Minor Moderate None Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Extreme Minor Moderate Moderate Extreme


QUICK TAKE:
Suspense/Black Comedy: After being mistaken for someone else, an otherwise unassuming man must deal with two crimes bosses with a vendetta against each other as well as a hired gun whose allegiance to anyone is questionable at best.
PLOT:
Slevin (JOSH HARTNETT) is an unassuming young man who's arrived in New York City to visit his friend Nick. After meeting his pal's neighbor, Lindsey (LUCY LIU), Slevin has a decidedly less satisfying encounter with two thugs who mistake him for Nick and insist that he must accompany them back to meet The Boss (MORGAN FREEMAN). The crime lord informs him -- thinking he's Nick -- that he owes a bookie nearly $100,000 who in turn owes The Boss.

In lieu of payment, The Boss gives Slevin the option of killing Yitzchok (MICHAEL RUBENFELD), the gay adult son of arch rival crime boss The Rabbi (BEN KINGSLEY). It turns out Slevin -- or rather Nick -- also owes money to The Rabbi who's employed the services of Goodkat (BRUCE WILLIS), a highly proficient assassin also working for The Boss.

As the bodies start piling up and Detective Brikowski (STANLEY TUCCI) tries to get to the bottom of what's occurring, a series of unexpected developments and revelations eventually cloud the picture regarding who's working with whom as well as who might be the last man standing.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Some might be interested in it, particularly older teens looking for a hip and stylish crime caper.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For strong violence, sexuality and language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
Considering all that occurs (murder, profanity, sex, motivations, etc.) it's doubtful many if any parents would consider the major characters as good role models for kids.
CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
The following is a brief summary of the content found in this suspense/black comedy that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 31 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, as are several sexual encounters (with movement, nudity and sounds). Many people are murdered in various fashions (gunfire, knives, broken neck, etc.), while characters strike others in various scenes. Many of the deaths are rather bloody, while such material may be unsettling or suspenseful for some viewers (although much of it's played somewhat lightly).

All sorts of bad attitudes are present (so much so that there aren't any good role models), while tense family material includes talk of familial deaths as well as a man having his son and wife threatened, with the latter being killed). Meanwhile, a few characters drink.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there is some of that in one scene.


ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • We see liquor on a bedside table.
  • Miscellaneous people drink (beer and cocktails).
  • Lindsey and Slevin have wine with dinner, as do others.
  • Yitzchok tells Slevin to come in and fix himself a drink.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • A man is suddenly shot (twice) at a car, with a window breaking and the man falling into it (both he and the window are bloody). We then see him dead on the parking lot (his eyes are open) and there's blood on his shirt.
  • A man kills three people with a small knife, stabbing the first two and throwing his knife into the third (with bloody results, including on a log book).
  • We see blood splatter onto a wall from a person being shot (we don't see the actual shooting impact).
  • A man is shot dead on the street with bloody results (seen from above).
  • Slevin has a bloody nose after being punched there.
  • We see a dead man (looking frosty) in a walk-in freezer.
  • We hear that Goodkat's plan is to make a double murder look like a double gay suicide and we see an imagined view of a person on the floor with bloody clothes.
  • We see two murdered men in a car with one having blood on his shirt.
  • Slevin shoots a man dead, with blood coming out and being on him (but that's imagined).
  • Goodkat shoots a man dead (a shot to the head with lots of resultant blood on the floor).
  • Two bodyguards purposefully smash their way through a wall, with Goodkat shooting both of them dead (with bloody results) as the machine guns in their hands fire but don't hit anyone.
  • We see two dead thugs in an elevator (with a pool of blood around them).
  • Slevin hits The Rabbi on the head (we don't see the impact but do see a slightly bloody cut on the latter following that).
  • We see a charred corpse in a morgue (with a close-up of the arm).
  • Goodkat shoots a woman dead (we see blood on her clothes), but (Spoiler Alert) we later see that she was wearing a vest equipped with fake blood.
  • We see a flashback to a man's face being bloody from a beating.
  • A man shoots another man in the head, killing him (with bloody results on the windshield).
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • All of those who kill others (past and present) obviously have bad attitudes.
  • The Boss and The Rabbi have it out for each other and both have hired Goodkat to do their lethal deeds.
  • Goodkat refers to an older black woman as "brown sugar" and says, "She's pretty f*cking foxy" (some viewers might be offended by such terms).
  • A "doctor" has a shot for a racehorse to help it win.
  • A big and seemingly somewhat dimwitted thug tells Slevin that even if the Virgin Mary came in with a "fine ass" and her "t*tties" hanging out, and if Slevin said he was Jesus, they'd still have to take him (Slevin) in to see their boss (some viewers might be offended by such talk).
  • The term "fairy" is used for gay.
  • The Boss wants Slevin to kill Yitzchok.
  • We hear that Goodkat's plan is to make a double murder look like a double gay suicide and we see an imagined view of a person on the floor with bloody clothes.
  • A cop uses the term "darkies" and "skullcaps" for blacks and Jews.
  • Brikowski says that Nick spent time for forcing himself on a 14-year-old cheerleader.
  • A cop pushes Slevin down in a van, followed by Brikowski punching him in the gut for having a smart mouth.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Scenes listed under "Violence" and "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, but much of it (while graphic, is played somewhat lightly).
  • Slevin places bags over The Boss and The Rabbi's heads.
  • We think Goodkat is going to kill someone upon discovering that they're still alive, but he doesn't.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Handguns/Rifles/Shotguns/Machine guns/Knives/Unseen Explosive: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "She's pretty f*cking foxy," "That's a f*cking story," "I'd say you're f*cked," "Who the f*ck are you?" "F*ck it," "Why the f*ck are you here?" "What a f*cking mess," "It was a f*cking massacre," "F*ck you both," "F*ck-head," "Look like sh*t," "Jerkin' Perkins" (sexual), "Brown sugar" (for a black woman), "Bitch," "Sit your punk ass down," "Slow your role," "Grab his ass," "Fairy" (gay), "Who the hell are you?" "Loser" and "Crappy." *Replying to something else, a man says he'd say anything a man with two penises would answer to his tailor about hanging to the right or left: "Yes."
  • Some of the action and con style behavior may be enticing for some kids to imitate.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • A man is suddenly shot at a car.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • A moderate amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 31 "f" words (3 used with "mother," 2 used sexually), 9 "s" words, 1 slang term using male genitals ("pr*ck"), 1 for breasts ("t*tties"), 3 asses, 2 hells, 1 crap, 1 damn, 3 uses of "Jesus," 2 each of "G-damn" and "Oh God" and 1 use of "Oh my God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • We see a man having rear entry intercourse with a woman who looks bored (our view is mostly from in front of them, with movement seen -- but no nudity -- and sounds heard, including her faking sexual talk including several sexual uses of the "f" word).
  • We see Slevin in just a towel that's riding rather low on him. He chats with Lindsey that way, and when she leaves, he adjusts the towel just as she suddenly walks back in (giving her a full view of him but we don't see anything). She then jokes about walking back in and him putting his penis on exhibition. She then says that it's like Norman Rockwell, confusing him and causing him to reply, "My penis?" but she's referring to borrowing sugar. She then adds that the penis thing is not very Andy Griffith (in terms of Americana). She then leaves again, but pops back in saying she wants to catch the next show and he says it's not until 8.
  • Lindsey shows some cleavage.
  • We see a man having sex with a woman (rear entry intercourse showing movement, his bare butt, her bare breasts and we hear sexual sounds) and they stop when they're discovered. There's later talk of a woman who gave him a "hand job" and a joke, "That's why we called her Jerkin' Perkins."
  • A big and seemingly somewhat dimwitted thug tells Slevin that even if the Virgin Mary came in with a "fine ass" and her "t*tties" hanging out, and if Slevin said he was Jesus, they'd still have to take him (Slevin) in to see their boss.
  • While still in just a bath towel, Slevin is taken by some thugs to see The Boss.
  • Replying to something else, a man says he'd say anything a man with two penises would answer to his tailor about hanging to the right or left: "Yes."
  • We see a flashback to Yitzchok with another gay man (but nothing overtly sexual is occurring at the moment).
  • Lindsey shows some cleavage.
  • We hear Slevin saying "That was incredible" and we then see him in bed with Lindsey post-sex.
  • SMOKING
  • A guy asks Slevin for a cigarette, and when Slevin says he doesn't have one, the man punches him in the face.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • A man (who's about to bet a lot of money on a horse) is told he will owe money to the kind of men you don't want to owe money to. The bettor then discovers that his son and car are gone, followed by a thug grabbing and hitting that man on the head. We then see the bettor tied up and he's punched hard in the gut (his face is also bloody and another man may be dead). A thug then holds a shotgun on the bettor's wife and a handgun is held to his son's head. We then see blood splatter onto the wall from the wife being shot (we don't see the actual shooting impact).
  • The Boss says that his son was murdered by The Rabbi and that his son must die as well.
  • The Boss talks of being shot in the past and seeing his wife's dead eyes.
  • The Boss tells The Rabbi that the latter's son is dead (to spite him).
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • The notion that what goes around comes around.
  • Revenge.
  • Betting big (with the wrong people) and losing.
  • VIOLENCE
  • A man is suddenly shot (twice) at a car, with a window breaking and the man falling into it (both he and the window are bloody). We then see him dead on the parking lot (his eyes are open) and there's blood on his shirt.
  • A man kills three people with a small knife, stabbing the first two and throwing his knife into the third (with bloody results, including on a log book).
  • A race horse falls right at the end of a race in a bad spill.
  • A man (who's about to bet a lot of money on a horse) is told he will owe money to the kind of men you don't want to owe money to. The bettor then discovers that his son and car are gone, followed by a thug grabbing and hitting that man on the head. We then see the bettor tied up and he's punched hard in the gut (his face is also bloody and another man may be dead). A thug then holds a shotgun on the bettor's wife and a handgun is held to his son's head. We then see blood splatter onto the wall from the wife being shot (we don't see the actual shooting impact).
  • Goodkat breaks a man's neck and then has the body in a wheelchair.
  • A man is shot dead on the street with bloody results (seen from above).
  • A guy asks Slevin for a cigarette, and when Slevin says he doesn't have one, the man punches him in the face.
  • Two thugs confront Slevin in Nick's apartment, with the big guy grabbing him by the neck and the smaller guy pushing Slevin to a chair.
  • A big thug punches Slevin in the gut and the nose (we don't see the latter impact).
  • We see a flashback to a guy on the street being shot.
  • A guy punches Slevin in the gut.
  • The Rabbi points a shotgun at Slevin.
  • We see a flashback to Yitzchok with another gay man who unknowingly activates the former's secret panic button, causing his former military bodyguards to storm the room and shoot the second man (we don't see the impact).
  • We see a flashback to a quick hit and resultant death, some stabbings and a poisoning, and a guy punching Slevin in the face.
  • A cop pushes Slevin down in a van, followed by Brikowski punching him in the gut for having a smart mouth.
  • We see two murdered men in a car with one having blood on his shirt.
  • Slevin shoots a man dead, with blood coming out and being on him (but that's imagined).
  • Goodkat shoots a man dead (a shot to the head with lots of resultant blood on the floor).
  • Two bodyguards purposefully smash their way through a wall, with Goodkat shooting both of them dead (with bloody results) as the machine guns in their hands fire but don't hit anyone.
  • A big explosion rips through a room (seen from the outside of the building).
  • We see two dead thugs in an elevator (with a pool of blood around them).
  • Slevin hits The Rabbi on the head (we don't see the impact but do see a slightly bloody cut on the latter following that).
  • We see a flashback to the first murder, committed by Goodkat, in a garage (no impact this time), as well as another man killing three men (from above).
  • We see a flashback to a man using a sniper rifle to shoot The Boss's son.
  • We see a flashback to Goodkat punching Slevin in the face (as part of a plan).
  • We see a flashback to Goodkat breaking a guy's neck in the terminal.
  • Goodkat shoots a woman dead (we see blood on her clothes), but (Spoiler Alert) we later see that she was wearing a vest equipped with fake blood.
  • A man shoots another man in the head, killing him (with bloody results on the windshield).



  • Reviewed February 9, 2006 / Posted April 7, 2006

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