Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

"The film is unusual for not having a plot or a payoff."

-Roger Ebert

I'm really starting to quote him a lot, aren't I?

You know, today, I went to bw-3's, and one of the questions on the NTN Playmaker was "What film critic won a Pulitzer Prize?" And before the options were even shown, I yelled, "Roger Ebert!" BAM, 1000 points, just as many points as you can get, and I was the only one that got them. And why do I know this? Because Roger Ebert is the only film critic to EVER get a Pulitzer Prize. And why do I know that? Because I have three of his books that say so on the back. Even as much as I can't stand his politics, Ebert's an awesome film critic. The most read, and definitely one of the best. You see, some things aren't popular because they're good. Bands like Good Charlotte, you dig? But some things ARE popular because they're good. Like Roger Ebert. If we lived in a Film Critic Kingdom, he would be the King.

Oh yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, 25th Hour. Let's talk about this film.

Now was there a plot to a word I just said? No. Was there a point? No. Was there a payoff? No. None of the above. Not even "Tom tries to successfully describe the greatness of Roger Ebert." No, because I wasn't even trying to do that. Inside of everything that I just wrote, there was no plot, payoff, nor point. BUT, there was a story. Just like in "25th Hour", which as far as I know, is the latest Spike Lee joint (fictional). Don't think I've ever seen a Spike Lee joint. Always wanted to, though- Summer of Sam, He Got Game, "The Original Kings of Comedy". But when all of those were released, I was a little kid, so I never got to see them. Poor me, eh?

Sometimes, a story is all you need to tell to make a good movie. There's no central conflict within this story. There are conflicts, but no big fat main thing. Its the story of a man named Monty Brogan in the last 24 hours of his life before he goes to prison. There is no climax. There's just problems that happen. Some of them are resolved. Some of them aren't (I bet you saw that sentence coming). We see what happens to Monty, and what happens to his friends before he leaves. And... that's it. No more. The end of the movie. It is the 25th hour, his dad makes a really, really long speech that amounts to nothing, and the film is over. This scene is epic, in the scheme of the film its in. There's in earlier scene in the movie, the soon-to-be-classic "F*ck Everyone" scene. That scene is epic in the entire scheme of film.

What happens? I could tell you everything, and I doubt it'd affect your viewing much. As I said, we watch Monty and his friends deal with his last day. What's going on? You could probably figure it out yourself, if you knew the characters. Oh, and why Monty's in prison- which is dealing drugs. So who are the characters? Well, you have Monty, who's played very well by the increasingly popular Edward Norton (blame Fight Club and American History X). Monty's wondering who narked on him, and whether or not he'll survive the first day in prison. You have his dad, who thinks he should run, and who thinks that Monty of course doesn't deserve this, and that's it all his father's fault anyway. His girlfriend doesn't think she'll be able to go on. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the insecure, low-income teacher, Jakob Elinsky. Hoffman's become the classic buddy in film now, and he's nice enough to think he's actually going to see Monty again, and that he'll visit him in prison and all that good stuff. Keep on dreaming, pal. Oh, and there's Frank Slattery, Monty's best buddy. Frank's a stockbroker. Stockbrokers are pretty realistic guys. He knows he'll never see Monty again. He knows Monty deserves what's happening to him- he profited off of other people's misery. And that's about it. Honestly, its the best I've ever seen Barry Pepper perform, excluding Battlefield Earth.

So what makes 25th Hour good? Oh yeah, I never even mentioned that I like it. I do. 25th Hour (note: not The 25th Hour, just "25th Hour") is good. Its very good. Its very good because it moves on, and it moves us by laying it down and showing people's reactions to this kind of situation. Sometimes one might think that these things wouldn't happen. But have you ever been about to go to prison for 7 years? Ever been really someone who was about to, and spent their last hours here with them? I'd figure it'd be pretty damn crazy.

You should see this movie. You should see it to be reminded of 9/11- one of the first scenes in the movie will. You should see it to see what NYC's like- I've been there, I know it. You should see it to realize that scumbags have feelings- they do. Trust me, I live with them. You should see it for the cheesy dialogue- amazing how well good actors can make it work. Hoffman's insecure, Pepper's a dick, and Dawson's too attached, and you believe it. They make you believe it. You should see it for a look inside human psychology- you will question yourself. You'll question people. And you should see it because its a damn good movie, and you'll walk away remembering how well Lee did the "f*ck everybody" scene. Lee doesn't stereotypically direct. I like that. We need more normal directors in the world.

This has to be one of the best reviews I've ever written.

Rating: B+
Review Rating: A. Definitely an A.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day