Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Blu-ray Movie Review

Weird and wild, this direct-to-video sequel actually offers some sick and twisted fun...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 9, 2010

In the wake of Narc's critical acclaim and success, breakout director Joe Carnahan shocked his newly pledged devotees with Smokin' Aces, a strange and savage actioner that defiled audiences and left many a cinephile shaking their head. Yet somehow, against all odds, his once-rejected bastard-child began to assemble a respectable home video fanbase; a rather sizable following responsible for making Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball an overwrought, equally divisive reality. But while its ensemble cast isn't as magnetic -- a few third-tier faces return for director P.J. Pesce's prequel, but the first film's big guns are nowhere to be found -- and its frantic script is even more convoluted, its pulpy heartbeat and full-throttle sensibilities spare it from a gruesome eternity in bargain bin hell. Don't misunderstand, Assassins' Ball isn't great cinema. It isn't one of those diamonds in the rough direct-to-video enthusiasts crave. No, it's merely a bloody, visceral oddity that summons Carnahan's patented grit-n-gore whimsy and unleashes it on a fresh batch of eccentric, curse-spewing hitmen and gun-toting, red-shirted federal agents.

The cancellation of 'The O.C.' didn't sit well with Autumn Reeser...

When the FBI discovers a kill-contract has been issued for an unassuming, mid-level Bureau employee named Walter Weed (Tom Berenger), an intuitive charmer named Agent Baker (Clayne Crawford) stashes the befuddled elderly analyst in an underground bunker in the hopes that the contract will expire before anyone can find them. Naturally a steady stream of crafty assassins -- icy hitman Finbar McTeague (Vinnie Jones), poisonous vixen Ariella Martinez (Martha Higareda), master of disguise Laslo Soot (Tommy Flanagan), and redneck nutjobs Lester (Maury Sterling), Fritz (Michael Parks), Kaitlin (Autumn Reeser) and Baby Boy Tremor (C. Ernst Harth) -- know exactly where to find good ol' Walter. After all, a three million dollar payday has a way of attracting solid intel. Before Baker and his team can react, they're surrounded by murderers and fighting for their lives. With the help of shotgun-packing club owner Malcolm Little (Christopher Michael Holley) and agency head honcho Anthony Vejar (Ernie Hudson), the agents have to protect Weed, flush out the killers, and figure out why Walter has become the target of so many notorious assassins.

I despised Carnahan's Smokin' Aces in 2006 when I caught it in theaters. "Nonsensical drivel," I angrily declared as the credits rolled. But a few late-night cable viewings and a subsequent rental softened my heart and eventually brought me around. I came to realize expectations had spoiled my first viewing. I had gone in expecting a film like Narc, but found something more akin to the late '80s arcade game of the same name. Long story short, I upgraded it from guilty pleasure to defensible art this year and am looking forward to expressing as much when I review its Blu-ray release this month. Why the lengthy history lesson? Because you should know, as one of the director's converted, I was primed to enjoy Assassins' Ball long before I pressed play. Take that as you will, especially when I say something like, "Pesce's brash, at-times vile prequel should appeal to anyone who enjoyed Carnahan's flashy bloodbath." Or, "his brazen approach to the material is meatier than amoral junkfood like Crank, and offers more interesting baddies and would-be fodder than The Transporter sequels and their ilk." Granted, Olatunde Osunsanmi's screenplay wobbles with plot holes, but it never quite falls down. As manic as the story is, as ludicrous as the setup and endgame are, as annoying as the film's endless plot twists can be, it's nevertheless an entertaining ride. And it has Vinnie Jones. In my book, that's always a plus.

But what of those who hated Smokin' Aces? Those who still curse Carnahan's name? I would suggest staying as far away from Assassins' Ball as possible. Although Pesce claims his film isn't a rehash of the first, his prequel hits the same notes, taps into the same reeling style, and often presents a near-carbon copy of Carnahan's madhouse. His inventiveness is limited to a contrived political message crammed into the third act (involving a conspiracy theory about America's connections to several international tragedies) and his vision is all too familiar. It doesn't help that most of his dialogue sounds as if it's been lifted from an unofficial Tarantino textbook. (A two-minute diatribe about the shaky relationship between jazz and rap music? Really?) Or that Pesce is proud of a series of scenes involving exploding circus clowns, one of the film's more exhausting jump-the-shark sequences. To his credit, Assassins' Ball is practically The Godfather compared to his previous work -- Lost Boys: The Tribe and Sniper 3, neither of which I'll be defending anytime soon -- but a more seasoned director would have probably accomplished more with such unlimited access to the Aces sandbox. Suffice to say, fans of Carnahan's flick shouldn't shy away from Assassins' Ball. It's an inferior entry in the series, not to mention a fundamentally flawed film, but it's a decent direct-to-video sequel that's at least worth the price of a rental.

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball boasts a strong, sometimes striking 1080p/VC-1 transfer that, minor issues notwithstanding, outclasses the majority of direct-to-video presentations on the market. The films fountains of blood are blessed with blazing red intensity, colors are rich and penetrating, skintones are warm and lifelike, blacks are exceedingly well resolved, and contrast rarely misses a step. Special effects shots are a bit disconnected from everything else around them, often revealing the limitations of Pesce's budget, but Universal's technical encode handles such challenges in stride. Likewise, noise and flickering occasionally invade the image (particularly in the agency headquarters and the confines of Malcolm's bunker), but it didn't amount to a significant distraction. Regardless, detail remains sharp throughout, textures are crisp and refined, and overall clarity is impressive. Soft edges and slight aliasing hinder a dozen shots or so, but again, look to Pesce's post-processing intentions and his kinetic editing rather than Universal. Artifacting, banding and DNR are MIA, resulting in a proficient image that's faithful to its director's vision. I doubt anyone will call the direct-to-video presentation filmic, but the studio's high definition efforts go above and beyond.

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

What Universal's chaotic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track lacks in subtlety, it more than makes up for in unadulterated, chest-thumping audacity. Sure, Pesce's madcap blend of blood-spattered shootouts, RPG 'splosions and screaming cannon-clowns can be overbearing, but with a title like Assassins' Ball, I wouldn't have it any other way. LFE output is aggressive to say the least, pumping enough bass into the soundscape to level an underground bunker on its own. Rear speaker activity is a tad hit-or-miss -- conversations aren't bolstered by the same ambience or acoustic prowess that elevates most of the action sequences -- but when they kick in, they kick in. Miraculously, dialogue is intelligible and well-prioritized, important lines are never lost in the ensuing absurdity, and most every sound effect, be it the roar of a throaty engine or the scattering debris from a concrete wall, is nice and clear. If anything, gunshots are occasionally tinny and a number of cluttered locales are a bit too flat and front-heavy. But again, the studio's track is built to flex its lossless muscle at every opportunity. I doubt anyone will applaud the mix during the film's quieter scenes, but those are few and far between. Jarring music cues, thundering frame wipes, and a hyper-stylized soundfield lay the groundwork for the satisfying sonic insanity that inevitably follows. Considering it's all tied to a direct-to-video release, that's saying a lot.

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball arrives with a variety of special features, most of which are presented in high definition. Appreciation for the film's frenetic pace and style is a prerequisite, but anyone who has any affection for any aspect of Pesce's latest direct-to-video sequel will find some nugget, anecdote, or production tidbit to keep them plowing through the supplemental package.

• Audio Commentary: Dropping terms like "Ridley Scott-ify," "lovely wipe," "oral connection," "cognitively challenged" and "vestigial remnant," director P.J. Pesce mumbles his way through a fairly engaging chat with executive producer (and original Smokin' Aces director) Joe Carnahan. Though Carnahan complements the film incessantly and Pesce tends to channel a restrained version of Kevin Smith, the Manhattan-sipping pair cover the development of the script, offer anecdotes about each of the actors that appear on screen, discuss the hyperactive editing techniques the director employs, and provide a satisfying overview of the production as a whole. They grow silent a bit too often (usually just before gushing over a scene), but fans of Assassins' Ball and the soon-to-be Aces franchise will enjoy the track almost as much as the film itself.
• Behind the Scenes with Joe Carnahan (HD, 7 minutes): After briefly reflecting on the tone and style of the original Smokin' Aces, this all-too-brief featurette digs into the genesis of Assassins' Ball, the reasons for creating a sequel, and the relationship that developed between Carnahan and Pesce.
• Confessions of an Assassin (HD, 26 minutes): A flashy production documentary brimming with cast and crew interviews, candid behind-the-scenes footage and, you guessed it, more praise for the film, its players and their efforts. Suffice to say, explosions, F-bombs and squibs abound.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 10 minutes): Dull and uneventful, the cuts and alternate scenes in this collection are a waste of time.
• Gag Reel (SD, 7 minutes): The same applies to Assassins' Ball's humorless, decidedly mundane gag reel.
• Ready, Aim, Fire (HD, 4 minutes): How many different weapons pop up in the film? Now you'll know the answer.
• Cue the Clown (HD, 3 minutes): A look at one of the more ridiculous sequences the sequel tosses at Aces diehards.
• The Bunker Mentality (HD, 4 minutes): Witness the birth and design of Assassins' Ball's central set piece.
• BD-Live Functionality and News Ticker
• My Scenes Bookmarking

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite its director's assertions, Pesce's Assassins' Ball clings all too desperately to everything that made Carnahan's Smokin' Aces the utterly bizarre, inexplicably enjoyable cult hit it is. Still, there's some fun to be had, even amidst all the redundancy, and action junkies should heed the call. Universal's Blu-ray release is a strong one -- a high-quality transfer, a rousing DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a solid batch of special features add substantial value to the package -- even if the film itself will alienate as many viewers as the first Smokin' Aces has over the years. Ah well, as unnecessary direct-to-video sequels go, Assassins' Ball is decent. Fans of its Carnahan-helmed predecessor should take note.