Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Two rival crime bosses live in towers directly across the street from each other in Lucky Number Slevin, glaring out their windows like neighbors fighting over a hedge, and nobody finds that strange. That’s the vibe: clever, stylish and pleased with itself. Everyone talks in polished wisecracks like they took the same screenwriting class, the wallpaper is loud enough to deserve billing, and the last act stops to explain itself in a long pile of flashbacks. Still, the cast is stacked. Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley play old enemies with the calm of men who never need to shout. Lucy Liu is a fast-talking delight as the neighbor who treats a mob mess like a fun puzzle. Josh Hartnett plays it so cool he’s basically a glass of ice water. Critics gave it 52% while IMDb users landed on a 7.7, so pick a side. A 6.5 because the cast is a blast and the script keeps checking itself out. $76.64 says someone calls you by the wrong name this week and you just roll with it.

What works: Freeman, Kingsley and Lucy Liu are having a great time, and the twisty setup keeps you guessing for a while.

What doesn’t: The dialogue is smug and over-polished, and the ending stops dead to explain every twist in long flashbacks.

Who it’s for: People who love puzzle-box crime movies with snappy talk and don’t mind a little showing off.