Spike Lee offers his fans something different with the release of his latest movie “25th Hour.” The movie follows the steps of a soon-to-be convict during his last day of freedom before serving a prison sentence.
The new drama starring Edward Norton is a movie about reflection — not only reflection on Monty Brogan’s (Norton) past, leading to present time, but also reflection on our nation’s recent history. Camera shots of ground zero and the awe-inspiring lights projecting skyward where the World Trade Center towers once stood are such examples. The thought-provoking script and images make for an enjoyable experience while reminding the audience of the realities that still exist in the world.
Monty is a day away from going to prison for seven years on drug dealing charges. Though a criminal, Monty is both intelligent and compassionate. His compassion is first recognized in the opening scene, when Monty saves a beaten dog from death and takes him in as his own.
Monty maintains a calm disposition throughout the majority of the film, occasionally showing some anxieties of what may happen to him in prison. The plot revolves around Monty taking the day to reflect on his past and spend a few precious hours with those who are important to him.
When Monty was arrested, he and his girlfriend Naturelle Rivera (Rosario Dawson) were living in his Manhattan apartment, where the Drug Enforcement Agency discovers a large quantity of drugs and money stashed away. Naturelle was present during the arrest, but was released with no charges.
That Naturelle was one of the only people to know where the drugs and money were hidden raises suspicions among Monty’s friends and former colleagues as to whether or not she blew the whistle on him. Monty’s lingering doubts cause him to keep his distance from her and prove to be an issue as far as spending his last day with her.
Despite his troubles, Monty attempts to collect happy memories of those close to him. He makes plans to meet up with two of his childhood friends — Jacob Elinsky (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Francis Xavier (Barry Pepper). The chemistry between the three adds to the intensity of the dialogue and the reality of the movie.
Jacob is an uptight, nervous man who does not seem to know how to loosen up. He has repressed feelings for one of his students, Mary D’Annunzio (Anna Paquin), a sexy 17-year-old who uses her sex appeal in an attempt to get what she wants from Jacob. The relationship between the two adds color to the plot, illustrating Jacob’s battle between his feelings and professionalism.
Francis and Jacob meet at Francis’ apartment, which happens to be adjacent to the ground zero clean-up, prior to meeting up with Monty. Francis is a hard-headed Wall Street whiz with a “take no prisoners” attitude. He is blunt and not afraid to say what is on his mind. He seems to think Monty will either run away or kill himself before going to jail.
Nevertheless, he is loyal to his friend and makes an effort to be there for him. Pepper’s delivery of his lines and his portrayal of such a callous character brings life to the film, especially toward the end.
Before going out to spend time with friends and associates, Monty insists on seeing his father, James Brogan (Brian Cox). James blames himself for what has happened to his son. While taking a break from the conversation with his father, Monty has a confrontation with himself in front of the bathroom mirror. The scene was startling at first but enlightening as to the nature of Monty’s character. The scene was a major turning point, changing the mood of the movie instantly.
Monty meets with Francis, Jacob,and Naturelle, and they spend the evening at a classy night club owned by Monty’s boss. The events throughout the evening remain unpredictable, with emotions running high in all of the characters. The intensity remains throughout the rest of the film up until the last minute.
The only problem with the film is its sluggish pace at moments toward the end of the movie. Although the dialogue and camera shots make up for any shortcomings in the film. Monty’s reflections of his past — for example, the first time he met Naturelle — help to show how things come about and change over time. Shots of the American flag and the different people in New York City forces the audience to reflect on events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 and the events taking place in the world right now.
