25th Hour (2002)
Directed by Spike Lee
Written by David Benioff

By the time the credits roll on 25th Hour, you feel like it's the 25th hour of watching it. Spike Lee has rarely been so boring and unfocussed. I always object when people dismiss Spike for infusing his movies with political dialogue, because mostly I think he does that in service of the story (Do the Right Thing being a great example, and Crooklyn showing he knows how to stick to the heart of the matter).

But with 25th Hour, he's gone and done exactly what everyone always says he does. Characters are featured who really have nothing to do with the story, and viewpoints are awkwardly crammed into their mouths that have no reason to be expressed. Much "controversial" commentary is offered on the whole 9/11 thing, almost as though Spike felt he just should address it. What he should have done was just get to the damn point.

Edward Norton is outstanding as a convicted drug dealer living out his last free day before a seven-year prison sentence. Great concept! Too bad you don't ever really find out what the hell he's going through. Pointless details are given on peripheral characters, and an entire subplot is included that is completely unnecessary. Philip Seymour Hoffman is as terrific in this subplot as Anna Paquin is awful, and both of them are essentially unrelated to the story itself. I don't care how interesting a character is if he doesn't need to be there.

The last half hour of the film is like watching a dance marathon with no music or dancing. I normally don't check my watch during a film, but I was pretty much staring at it through the last bit.

25th Hour offers its audience an inverse experience to the main character's: he is free, biding his time before imminent imprisonment, and we are imprisoned, desperately hoping to be free as soon as possible.

Review by Lemonade Wilkinson