CU sneak peak garners mixed reviews
In the wicked January chill, a crowd of about 800 CU students waited outside for a pre-release showing of “Smokin’ Aces.”
The crowd was rowdy, not of the usual couch-burning standards, but rowdy nonetheless. The smell of marijuana permeated from its midst, and anyone who attempted to bypass the line was swiftly and decisively rebuffed.
“It was a fun crowd tonight. I have been to all the movies we’ve shown, and this is the biggest crowd I’ve seen since ‘Jackass Number Two,'” said junior English major Greg Russell, one of two security directors for Program Council. Program Council sponsored “Smokin’ Aces,” and also sponsors many other screenings throughout the year.
Unfortunately for these eager moviegoers, the auditorium only has capacity for 500 people.
“I’d say we turned away about 300 people,” Russell said. “Passing out more tickets than we have capacity for is what we are required to do by the film companies we have contracts with. It’s a marketing scheme by the film companies. I’d like to see it changed, but I don’t know if it’s possible.”
Those lucky enough for admission to the crowded lecture hall-turned-theater left ecstatic and jubilated. Viewers were captivated by the chronicle of Buddy “Aces” Israel, played by Jeremy Piven. Israel, a lower-tier con-turned-snitch against the mob, quickly finds himself surrounded by a legion of gun-toting federal agents attempting to protect him from the forays of seven assassins hell-bent on retrieving a million-dollar prize for Israel’s head.
Several students commented on the movie.
Jack Wilde, a senior history major, said the film was not what he expected.
“It was billed more as a comedy, but it was definitely a drama. And the violence was a lot more intense than I was expecting,” Wilde said.
More than anything, the viewers were impressed by the maturity and magnificence portrayed by certain actors cast.
“I was very impressed by Ryan Reynolds,” Wilde said, “It was a big step up from ‘Van Wilder.'”
More minor characters such as contract killer Georgia Sykes, played by the music world’s Alicia Keys, and FBI director Stanley Locke, played by ‘Godfather 3’s’ Andy Garcia, were less well-received.
“I’m not sure what kind of accent (Andy Garcia) was supposed to have, but he didn’t pull it off too well,” said junior geography major Jen Perry.
Keys is still learning the ropes on the big screen, a fact apparent to some viewers.
“(Alicia Keys) wasn’t bad, but she wasn’t outstanding. She should stick to singing,” said freshman creative writing major Peter Goodwin.
“Smokin’ Aces,” rated “R” for strong, bloody violence, pervasive language, some nudity and language, hit theaters today. Visit www.moviefone.com for showtimes and locations.
