The latest in a long line of ultra-violent, psuedo-hip action flicks, "Smokin' Aces" has many of the same ingredients that made such films as "Domino," "True Romance" & "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" minor classics of the genre. Bitchin' title? Check. An all-star cast of hip actors? Check. Eccentric-but-cool, badass characters? Check. A quasi-labyrinthine plot? Check. F-bomb-loaded dialogue? Check. Big, blasting gun fights? Check. Vertigo-inducing editing? Check. Shot in a style that resembles a master's thesis from the Tony Scott School of Cinematic Overkill? Check, check, check. And here in lies the problem. "Smokin' Aces" has a decent story to tell, and is technically competent enough, but unfortunately, the story is just a clothesline on which to hang a checklist of "hip" elements we've seen in other pictures. The movie is interesting enough to sit through once, but you're likely to forget it soon after.

Everybody's after Vegas illusionist Buddy "Aces" Isreal, a smarmy little weasel with aspirations of being a big-time mob figure. But now two warring mafia organizations want him dead, and have put a million dollar bounty on his head (which attracts all sorts of looney assassins to take the job). A district attorney wants him for jumping bail, and has hired three bounty hunters to bring him in. The FBI wants him as a witness to bring down the Mafia. They're all converging on a Lake Tahoe penthouse suite where Buddy's been hiding. Aside from an admittedly nifty twist ending, that's essentially the plot in a nutshell. Some characters will survive the inevitable climactic bloodbath, some won't. The huge cast is certainly game (and deliver decent performances), but aside from a few eccentricities, we don't learn enough about any of these characters (probably because there are too many fighting for screen time) to really care one way or another. We simply sit and bide our time until the next elaborate action scene. Speaking of which, while those scenes are technically proficient & plenty violent (especially the climax), for a movie apparently edited by caffeine junkies, there really isn't a whole lot of action. And for a movie purporting to be an "edgy action comedy" (quoted right off the back of the case), "Smokin' Aces" is mostly somber in tone, and the few attempts at edgy humor feel contrived and forced (though I admittedly laughed out loud at one bounty hunter's untimely death on the side of a road).

The movie looks great though. Anyone who's learned to appreciate the cinematic skills of Tony Scott and Michael Bay will have no complaints with this transfer, presented in its original 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio. And, of course, the movie's loud as hell, rendered in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The balance is quite good and the predictably thundering music/song score is served well by this transfer.

Two audio commentaries are offered, both featuring writer/director Joe Carnahan ("Narc"). In the first he's joined by editor Robert Frazen, the second by rapper-turned-actor Common, who really isn't in the movie all that much, save for one key scene. An alternate ending (dubbed the "Cowboy Ending") is also included. It's a bit more over-the-top than the original, but considering the staccato style of the rest of the film, may be more effective. Also included are several deleted scenes, some funny outtakes, a ten minute interview with the director, a featurette on some of the action scenes, and a profiles of most of the major characters, discussed by the actors who played them.

Stylish, but ultimately forgettable, "Smokin' Aces" ends up being a passable time killer that wastes a great cast, saddling them with "hip" roles which feel more like walking cliches than actual characters. A shame, since if you were to trim the story of some of these characters, as well as the film's pointless visual excesses, you'd have a pretty cool little thriller on your hands. Unless you've never actually seen any of the aforementioned movies this one emulates, "Smokin' Aces" is recommended for rental only.