25th Hour

 3.5/4

Starring: Edward Norton, Rosario Dawson, Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Tony Siragusa

Rated R for Strong Language and Some Violence

"25th Hour" is one of the gloomiest, yet at the same time one of the most thought-provoking, movies I've seen in a while.  The subject matter is as unhappy as you can imagine, but it stirs considerable thought.  Not just about the scenario that sets up the film's minimalist plot, but other more existential matters as well.  It's impossible to watch this movie without having the back of your brain considering the questions that it raises.

It's Monty's last hurrah.  He isn't going to die, but he is turning himself in for a seven year prison sentence in the morning.  Someone snitched on him and the DEA found a kilo of drugs hidden in his couch.  He's allowing himself one last night on the town for himself and his friends Frank (Pepper) and Jacob (Hoffman).  His girlfriend Naturelle (Dawson) is also joining them, as is Jacob's student Mary D'Annunzio (Paquin).  They try to live it up, but Monty's prison sentence hangs over them all like a guillotine waiting to fall.

Storywise, "25th Hour" isn't complicated, but it's not that kind of movie.  This is a movie about the existential effects of such a situation.  This is a movie about self-reflection.  Monty and his friends are constantly reassessing their predicament and how the decisions they made got them there.

Guilt is probably the most shared feeling among the group.  Monty, obviously, since he has the most that he is going to lose.  But there are two other things that eat away at him.  One, he was planning on giving up the life and investing his profits with Frank, but he waited too long.  He "got greedy," as he put it.  And the other is the biggest question of all: who ratted him out to the cops?

Monty's friends also feel guilt.  They knew what he was doing.  So what responsibility do they share for his arrest?  Of course Naturelle knew, but didn't approve.  But she also liked the money that it brought her and didn't hesitate to take trips to Puerto Rico or live it up in her fancy apartment.  Frank was Monty's best friend since they were three and is unfailingly loyal to him.  He knew Monty when he started dealing weed in high school.  Should he he have done more?  Could he?  Everyone agrees that Monty has a stubborn streak, but maybe Frank said it best when he said that it doesn't matter how good of a man Monty is.  He lived on other people's addictions and he has to pay the price.

There's also a curious episode between the shy Jacob and Mary.  Jacob is attracted to Mary, and Mary knows it.  Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that Jacob is comes to a similar crossroads that Monty faced.  His decision may suggest the film's ultimate philosophy.

Fear is just as prominent an emotion as guilt.  Obviously, prison terrifies Monty because he knows he is not tough enough for the slammer.  But also the fear of losing everything permanently.  A seven year sentence is a long time, but it could be worse.  As Frank assures him, he'll still be a relatively young man at 38.  But what about his friends?  Or Naturelle/. They say they will be there when they he gets out and it will be just like old times.  Will it?  A lot of things can happen in seven years.  People get married, they get promotions, they move.  Monty is going to miss all that.  The fact that life has a way of changing everything is not lost on him.

This was a passion project for Edward Norton, who used every penny he made from "Red Dragon" to finance this film.  Although Tobey Maguire bought the rights with the intention of starring, he ultimately decided to do "Spider-Man" instead (he remains a producer).  Norton is the better choice for Monty; not only is he a superior actor, but he has a swagger and an introspective nature that Maguire lacks.  Edward Norton has a reputation for being difficult to work with (example: "American History X"), but his ego has been submerged here.  Perhaps because he is front and center for 90% of the film and because he is working with A-list director Spike Lee.

He is surrounded by a gifted supporting cast of character actors.  Barry Pepper, who never gets the recognition he deserves, gives the best performance of his career as that Gordon Gekko wannabe.  Underneath his slick, cocky exterior, Frank is a mixture of pain and anger at the imminent loss of his friend.  Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of the greats and he has no trouble playing the shy Jacob.  Brian Cox is as reliable as they come, and his shining moment comes in the powerful closing monologue.  Rosario Dawson and Anna Paquin are always in top form, and that hasn't changed here.

The movie contains two extended monologues.  The first is arguably the most famous bit from the film, but I don't think it works.  It's where Monty launches into a profane rant at anyone he can think of before ultimately targeting his rage at himself.  Although it's well written, Lee's handling of the scene is stagy and as a result feels artificial (having the refection talk back to Monty increases the falseness of this scene).  On the other hand, Brian Cox has a wonderful speech at the end, painting a picture for Monty that, under the circumstances, can bring a tear to the eye.

"25th Hour" is an open-ended film.  This is the kind of movie where you go get a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and talk about it.  Many people don't like that in their movies, but I do if it's done well.  That's the case here.  It made me think and reflect on the situation, the characters, and of course, what I would think, do and feel in Monty's situation.  Provoking thought and feeling is the hallmark of excellence, and that's what "25th Hour" is.  It's not the happiest movie you could see, but it's deeply provocative and affecting.