Plot
Cornered by the DEA, convicted New York drug dealer Montgomery Brogan reevaluates his life in the 24 remaining hours before facing a seven-year jail term.
Release Year: 2002
Rating: 7.8/10 (81,948 voted)
Critic's Score: 67/100
Director:
Spike Lee
Stars: Edward Norton, Barry Pepper, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Storyline The 25th Hour depicts the last day of freedom for a young man before he begins serving a seven-year jail term for drug dealing. Prowling through the city until dawn with his two close male friends and his girlfriend, he is forced to re-examine his life and how he got himself into his predicament, which leads to a shocking, disturbing finale.
Writers: David Benioff, David Benioff
Cast: Edward Norton
-
Monty Brogan
Philip Seymour Hoffman
-
Jacob Elinsky
Barry Pepper
-
Frank Slaughtery
Rosario Dawson
-
Naturelle Riviera
Anna Paquin
-
Mary D'Annunzio
Brian Cox
-
James Brogan
Tony Siragusa
-
Kostya Novotny
Levan Uchaneishvili
-
Uncle Nikolai
(as Levani)
Tony Devon
-
Agent Allen
Misha Kuznetsov
-
Senka Valghobek
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
-
Agent Flood
Michael Genet
-
Agent Cunningham
Patrice O'Neal
-
Khari
Al Palagonia
-
Salvatore Dominick
Aaron Stanford
-
Marcuse
Taglines:
Can you change your whole life in a day?
Release Date: 10 January 2003
Filming Locations: Austin, Texas, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $15,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $108,865
(USA)
(22 December 2002)
(5 Screens)
Gross: $13,060,843
(USA)
(6 April 2003)
Technical Specs
Runtime:|
Turkey:
(TV version)
Did You Know?
Trivia:
On-screen father and son Brian Cox and Edward Norton have both appeared in films with the Hannibal Lecter character: Cox played Lecter in
Manhunter, while Norton played Will Graham in that movie's remake,
Red Dragon. Philip Seymour Hoffman also appeared in
Red Dragon as reporter Freddy Lounds.
Goofs:
Continuity:
When Barry Pepper and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are discussing the "bachelor rating" system, Barry's arm (and beer) jumps around between shots.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Monty Brogan:
Look at this. He's alive. Kostya Novotny:
This dog, how you call it? Bull pit? Monty Brogan:
No, Pit-Bull. But that's not a pit bull. I don't know, I don't know what he is. I bet he lost somebody some money though. Give me your gun. Kostya Novotny:
Shooting him? Monty Brogan:
Yeah.
User Review
Masterpiece of human emotion
Rating: 9/10
'I tattooed 'survive' on my hand the night before I went away to
prison. And I did. We do what we have to do to survive.'
I don't think I can remember a film that has put me more on an emotive
level with the main character as this film has. Edward Norton plays
Monty Brogan – he's not the nicest of people by anyone's standards –
and certainly no one you should feel sorry for. But having said that, I
have never felt so sorry for the bad guy as I did watching this film.
We watch the anguish of Monty during his last 24 hours on the 'outside'
before he must go to prison for seven years, knowing completely what is
in store for him on the 'inside'.
Set in post 9/11 New York City, we are constantly reminded of humanity
and the need to bond together and to make the most of the little time
we have; as do Monty's friends, including Jacob Elinsky (Hoffman), a
confused and self-tortured school teacher who has strong feelings for
one of the students in his class, Mary (Paquin – of X-Men and The Piano
fame). Although not about to die, Monty's world is about to turn
severely bad, and there's nothing he can do about it. Norton's
performance made me feel nervous and quite scared on his behalf, almost
to the point of feeling nauseous. It made me want to forgive him,
forget about his crimes and let him go (he seemed sorry for what he did
– he was no longer a drug dealer – he was trying to make an effort).
His performance worked. He had successfully transformed the criminal
figure into your best mate and buddy, perhaps even yourself, and you
genuinely feel sorry for him.
Director Spike Lee's films usually deal with African-American themes,
so it came as a surprise to me to find that this film was something
very different – proving that Lee's talent extends across multiple
genres and styles.
I highly recommend 25th Hour, not just for the brilliant story, but for
the emphatic feelings the film imparts on the viewer.
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