25th Hour (2002)

 

Synopsis: Unapologetic New York drug dealer comes to the startling realization that seven years of prison isn’t going to be a whole lot of fun. 

Blurb From the DVD jacket: “In 24 short hours, Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) goes to prison for seven long years. Once a king of Manhattan, Monty is about to say goodbye to the life he knew - a life that opened doors to New York’s swankiest clubs but also alienated him from the people closest to him.” 

What Did I Learn?: 1) Prison is a bad place to be. 2) A man should never go into a Victoria’s Secret store and ask: “does this come in children’s sizes? 3) Sway is….a) walking into the best five-star restaurant in the city, without a reservation, and being seated right away…. b) making a phone call in the morning and having curtsied seats, Madison Square Garden, that evening… c) entering a club through the staff entrance, so you can skip the line, the cover charge and the metal detector…. d) locking eyes with an undercover cop on the subway. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You believe there are 25 hours in a day. 

Really?: 1) I had a bit of a hard time believing that Monty would suspect Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) of dropping a dime on him even though they have been living together for months after the arrest and trial. Most people aren’t that cold-blooded. 2) I realize Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman) isn’t getting any, but there’s no way a teacher would throw away his career and risk a jail sentence by lusting after, and kissing a teenaged student. 

Rating: 25th Hour is a thoughtful, compelling and credible look at a young man who clearly has a lot on his mind at a troubling time in his life. Highly recommended. 9/10 stars. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307901/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0