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| 25th
Hour
Directed By: Spike
Lee Plot
Summary - Review 1 - Review
2 - CURRENT REVIEWS
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| Monty Brogan is about to start his last day of freedom before turning himself into the authorities and serving a seven-year term for drug dealing. He's a charming young man who had always dreamed of being a fireman, following in the working-class footsteps of his father, who has had to put up his bar in Queens as bond so that his son can stay out of jail until his sentence begins. Monty, named for Montgomery Clift, does not know how he managed to get himself into this predicament. It was easy money and it carried so many perks, and you'll feel more than a little sympathy for this young man who has managed to kill his own dream for courtside seats at Madison Square Garden. But before he goes to prison, Monty wants to have one last night out on the town with his two best friends. Frank Slattery is a bond trader, one of the best and most successful risk takers in a very risky business. The other is Jakob Elinsky, an English teacher who envies his friends' lifestyles but who has no intention of ever giving up his job for the easy money, despite the disillusionment of teaching high school students in a tough school. The three young men enjoy the night into the early morning as they eat, drink, and visit the hottest spots in town. [TRAILER] The title “25th Hour” alludes to this film’s greatest treasure – a final ten-minute monologue about a life at the crossroads. The bulk of the film witnesses Monty Brogan’s (Edward Norton) final day as a free man before going to prison for drug possession. He has 24 hours to get his life in order, to discover who gave him to the police, and to find some sort of inner peace before going away for seven years. But it is that 25th hour when things come to a head. As Brogan and his father drive to a New York prison, approaching an interchange that could instead take them west, the skill of director Spike Lee is in top form. He shows us what Brogan’s life could be like if he took the easy way out, what the two possible futures for Brogan are at this instant in time. In many ways, the remainder of the film is a tease, building to this very decision. Brogan’s relationships with his girlfriend, impromptu reunion with his two best friends, and dealings with his criminal associates all shed light on who Brogan is and what makes him tick. Around him, almost every character faces a life-defining decision as Brogan’s final day of freedom comes to an end. The film’s three leading actors are fantastic and “25th Hour’s” intensity is powerfully real. We understand the importance of this night, and the vicious inner debate that is circulating in Brogan’s head. While vulgar, and slow getting started, “25th Hour” is a wonderful film. It is one of those movies where its characters remind us of people we’ve met and their fears and confusions hit, at times, a little too close to home.  
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