This was a Great Movie. It is a special kind of movie that grabs you by the soul and forces you to like Monty, the drug dealer. The entire film builds to the ending and every step of the way is fraught with interesting scenes, emotions, script, and above all so many Great MOMENTS. That is what sticks with you after you turn it off. The acting is superior, and Edward Norton is at his best in the lead. Some great support from Rosario Dawson especially, and then (of course) Philip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Pepper. Spikes fixture Isiah Whitlock as Agent Flood is perfect. Anna Paquin is dreamy as Mary who is just discovering her sexuality in a most satisfying pair of sequences. And Brian Cox puts in his best as Monty's Father, and he contributes much more than you think at first. I love this movie, and hate it. Spike gives us his best here and it's filled with NYC references and special scenes as well that only a New Yorker can really appreciate but all will enjoy. It's NOT an uplifting film, but a real human experience.

Seems strange to get a review a decade or so later but I only watched this Spike Lee classic recently and was totally blown away with every aspect of this movie. How Edward Norton did not get an Oscar nomination defies explanation but also serves to prove what a farce the Academy Awards are. This is movie making at it's best as one lives every raw emotion that Norton extracts. The entire cast give a stellar performance and none more than Barry Pepper and Rosario Dawson. The haunting musical score and New York 'sidewalk atmosphere' uplifts the movie. As for the oft underrated Norton, he lived his character to the max with such conviction one actually felt a little sorry for a bad guy on his way to the pen. Great to also see Spike Lee stepping out of his comfort zone and turn a fabulous novel into one of the all time cinematic masterpieces. A resounding 10/10 !

What would YOU do if you had one day free, before you spent the next seven years in the clink? If you're Edward Norton you say a last goodbye to your family, take your dog for a walk, go on an all-night bender with your buddies... And find out who set you up to take the fall, that's what. After all, we're not talking about UK style holiday accommodation here. It's 200 men to a cell, hard labour every day and the most basic food you can imagine. Of course, we could NEVER think of implementing such a barbaric regime over here. After all, even hardened criminals have RIGHTS. (Thanks, EU) So we follow our future jailbird as he seeks to repair broken relationships, put things in order and basically have a funtastic final fling before his extended expulsion from society. It's engaging material, the sub plots involving his two best friends (One an egotistical stockbroker, the other a neurotic teacher) hit the target too. One day is a short time to base a film around though, and even with all the constant flashbacks about how he got in this situation, the story does have a tendency to drag. Some of the dialogue can be over melodramatic, too.Still worth a watch, but NOT the masterpiece some are proclaiming it to be... 6/10

25th Hour is the story of a convicted drug dealer in his last day before he serves 7 years in jail. During this time, he reflects on what caused him to get "pinched", and how he is throwing his life away. And most importantly, about his life that was so close to happening.A very interesting concept overall. Movies either focus on what gets people into jail, what they do when they get there and how they survive, but I've rarely seen films that focus on the moments before going to prison. The family and friends that are left behind. The regrets, the confusion. It's certainly an original concept that was well executed. Beautiful character development and cinematography (especially near the end during the long driving scene). The story is told mainly in chronological order, however there are some flashbacks cut in here and there - however it's not too difficult to tell that they are in fact flashbacks.My only quip with this film that would have bumped it up to a 9 rating otherwise was some of the unnecessary deviations away from Monty (the main character)'s story. Example; the side-plot that explores Jacob Lewinsky (Monty's best friend and lonely prep school teacher)'s lust for his 17 year old student. Completely unnecessary and didn't enrich the movie in any way. Those scenes with Jacob in the club with the girl were awkward and just stuck out from the rest of the movie, which was otherwise beautifully done. I didn't see the point of it, and was a little confused as to why it was there in the first place.Overall - interesting, original concept. Definitely powerful and provocative, but could go an extra mile or two without subplot deviations.