Josh in Slevin: reviews/comments.

[Jocasta]

Here's a sample of some of the great feedback Josh is getting in his latest role;

Please add more as you find them.

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St. Paul native Josh Hartnett is the life of the repartee, giving a performance that makes good on the comic potential he showed with lesser material in "40 Days and 40 Nights" and "Blow Dry." As the quick-witted Slevin, who always has three wisecracks at the ready and whose third one usually results in him getting punched in the schnoz, Hartnett gives a performance that is brisk, intelligent and effortlessly charming, and his scenes with Lucy Liu, as a bubbly Nancy Drew who's delighted by every clue she stumbles upon, are the most fun you can have at the movies right now.
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Hartnett's Slevin at first seems like a lightweight comedy role, and he plays it with funny sass and verve. As the stakes rise, however, we realize that this is the most multilayered role of Hartnett's career, one that he handles with assurance. Slevin has a cocky, wisecracking way of expressing himself that gets him punched out regularly by the macho gangsters, but in hindsight his unguarded manner is completely appropriate. His impromptu fling with a lovelorn coroner (Lucy Liu) seems like a plot cliché from a weak romantic comedy until Jason Smilovic's puzzle-game screenplay pulls it all together.
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Hartnett positively sparkles in his latest film, much of which he spends with only a towel draped around his waist. His cheeky, nimble turn makes you realize what all the magazine cover fuss was about, and suggests that with The Black Dahlia and the Chet Baker biopic The Prince of Cool around the corner, this could be the beginning of a trifecta that helps vault the chiseled 27-year-old past fellow thespians such as the 28-year-old Ashton Kutcher.
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I saw LNS last night and i won't spoil it for anyone, but it was absolutely fabulous. Josh's BEST WORK TO DATE. I was completely shocked at how deep his character was and the way he pulled it all off. I knew he had it in him, but we FINALLY get to see it...for those of you who haven't seen it...you have GOT to go. This is a "better seen in a theater" kind of movie.

[Jocasta]

I just read this on a Blog... it's a great quote!

If you didn’t love Josh Hartnett before this film, now is the perfect opportunity to start. I have been wracking my brains trying to think of a cooler guy playing a cooler character, and I just cannot think of one—maybe James Dean in Rebel? Mr. Hartnett is all over this role, and he will have you eating out of his hands in no time. I just wish I could figure out how to make my messy hair look so cool.

Wise words!

[Intensely Deceiving]

I love the comment about Josh's hair lol! I loved his hair in this movie, how it sticks almost straight up in the front.

[Jocasta]

And Josh as Slevin has got one of those Hartnett-Hating Guys eating his own words... I just love when that happens!

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Most would think Josh “Heartthrob” Hartnett would be the greatest weakness to a film of this genre and caliber. To be completely honest, and I hate doing this, Hartnett played a perfect Sleven. Not only does the role require multiple angles, personalities and complicated dialogue, it should be enough to help earn Hartnett the respect of many male moviegoers that have enjoyed bagging on him the past half-decade. If you thought he was cool as the salesman in Sin City, then this film should be a real kick in the pants.

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Source.

Usually I'm not a big fan of Josh Hartnett but Lucky Number Slevin might make me keep an eye on him in the future. Slevin instantly wins audience sympathy as he bumbles around and gets roughed up by the bad guys in the first half of the movie. His ability to shift from comedic to somber to tough shows that Hartnett has grown in his acting versatility. He clearly shows that he's earned the right to a leading role in Slevin

I love "...might make me keep an eye on him in the future." Josh is clearly gaining respect from movie-goers and critics. And, yes, we certainly did see his growth in this film.
source:
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArtic...26767&pid=1432

I thought this was an excellent review!!

Lucky for Us Josh Hartnett Can Act
BY MARY HARDING


Up until recently any thought I had of Josh Hartnett was usually accompanied by a flashback to his death scene in Pearl Harbor (yes, I admit that I actually paid to sit through that horrible excuse for a movie), where instead of feeling any sort of sympathy for his character, I wanted to laugh and clap for joy at his no longer being able to talk. However, since he had somewhat disappeared over the past few years, I thought his career was officially over and the world would thus return to making sense. That being said, after viewing his new movie Lucky Number Slevin in its opening weekend, I was left in a complete state of confusion. Not only did Mr. Hartnett successfully carry the entire film, he managed to hold his own against such acclaimed actors as Morgan Freeman and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Hartnett portrays Slevin, a guy who is forced into working for two competing mob bosses in the worst case of mistaken identity and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Along the way Slevin encounters Lindsey (Lucy Liu, making a strong turn away from her Charlie’s Angels persona), a woman who ultimately becomes his ally and love interest in the quest to get out of his situation. Surprisingly, Hartnett and Liu have great romantic and comedic chemistry together. The mob bosses are, of course brilliantly portrayed by Morgan Freeman (simply known as “The Boss”) and Ben Kingsley (called “The Rabbi” because he is a Rabbi). Both forcibly ask Slevin to commit assassinations, supposedly on the basis of paying off debts. However, both are unknowingly being influenced by a hit man nicknamed “Mr. Goodkat” (The darkly hilarious Bruce Willis, who has been on a streak of fantastic roles since Sin City), who for some reason has a particular interest in Slevin.

Though the film features amazing supporting players, this film would not work without Hartnett’s performance, as the film is centered around his character. Slevin is clever, quick, witty, and not at all what he seems. With the help of director Paul McGuigan and a sharp-witted script from Jason Smilovic, Hartnett is able to finally ditch his teen flick days and mature into a solid leading man. Hartnett rises to the challenge of playing a tit-for-tat game with both Freeman and Kingsley (there is an especially brilliant scene where Slevin plays chess with “The Boss”), with the end result being a sleek film noir. Every character is essential, and each scene is important in figuring out the mystery of who Slevin is, and why Mr. Goodkat is interested in him. The mystery revolves around a gamble placed on a horse race in the 70’s, an event that is central for the fate of each character. There are several plot twists, most of which are satisfying and clever. Sadly, there are a few extraneous twists that do end up ruining the end of the story, but the majority of the film is highly entertaining. Despite the disappointing ending, the performances made it well worth the time and money I spent. As for Mr. Hartnett, he will later this year be seen in The Black Dahlia opposite Hilary Swank (directed by the acclaimed Brian De Palma), and is currently dating Scarlett Johannson (sorry guys). So, I guess you could say he has officially become a new leading man, and an actual actor.

Source

[Intensely Deceiving]

That is a truly awesome review. It always makes me so happy when he converts somebody lol!

[Jocasta]

Thanks Melanie... it's a great review and I'm glad critics like that, who slated Josh so badly, are having to eat their words.
Let's be honest, whatever anyone thought of Pearl Harbor, Josh's performance was not to blame for the film's bad reviews.

[Tcup4jdh]

Thank you for saying that, because I really want to Bi+ch about that. Here's what I came up with last night.
(PLEASE FEEL FREE TO IGNORE ME)

While I’m certainly happy that Josh is finally getting the type of reviews he deserves. It’s been a long time coming. But it really bugs me that these critics insist on dragging up their negativity towards PH, before giving him his kudos. Whatever its flaws, PH is still one of my favorite movies and Danny is one of my favorite characters. These critics need to GET OVER IT! PH was released 5 years ago. I wonder if they ever think, or even realize –

1 – PH was shot 6 years ago with principal photography wrapping August 19, 2000.
2 – Josh had just turned 22, which means for most of the shoot he was only 21 (a mere boy still). No offense intended. I’m speaking from my aged perspective.
3 – This was his 1st big, huge, summertime-release type of movie and he had to carry half the lead responsibility.
4 – He was barely 3 years into his professional career as an actor and not that well known when he was cast. Every actor has to grow. There are actors out there who've been acting since the ice age and still haven’t grown.

He wasn’t the only person involved in the movie. Why is so much of their criticism laid at Josh’s feet? I mean applauding at Danny’s demise. It’s not like they were watching Paris Hilton in House of Wax for goodness sakes.

To all critics: It’s good that you’re recognizing Josh’s talent and skill. As such, put PH to rest in your tiny critical minds already. Thank you!

Bi+ch over…..

[Jocasta]

Bravo!! Very well said.

Josh had just turned 22, which means for most of the shoot he was only 21 (a mere boy still).

Indeed. Even now he's still young for a serious actor, but back then, with so little screen time behind him (unlike early starters like Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst and Scarlett) he really did incredibly well. And they always say how much a good director can help an actor, even an experienced one, so with Micheal Bay at the helm, Josh did amazingly well!

Tcup--I wish your comments about Pearl Harbor could be published where everyone could read them! They convey my sentiments exactly.

I will never understand where in the he11 the intense ire for this wonderful movie came from. I believe that Josh was unjustly criticized for being in a movie that a some crappy people made it their mission in life to crucify.

I really don't give flying flip how young Josh was when this movie was made, his performance was incredible, and, in my opinion, so were all the other actors. I don't really like Ben Affleck that much, but I still think he was good in the movie, and Kate Beckinsale, as well. It seems that certain people like to rail on this movie just for the sake of railing---even to this day!!

As for the critics, they always try to make it seem like Pearl Harbor is a albatross around Josh's neck, and that it is something that Josh will constantly be trying to make up for. But, then, they are critics, so they, more often than not, would not see great potential in a young actor if it jumped up and bit them in the butt!!

Pearl Harbor holds a very special place in my heart, first, because it introduced me to Josh, and second, because it is truly a beautiful, heart-warming, and, yes, well-made and well-acted movie.

[Tcup4jdh]

Thank you Kate and Olive. I agree wholeheartedly with you Olive. PH never leaves my DVD player. I first saw Josh in Cracker, but didn't know who he was then. So PH re-intro'd him to me. It will hold that same place for me too. I saw no bad performances. And Danny still makes me cry.

[Intensely Deceiving]

I think Pearl Harbour didn't do as good as expected because I think everybody thought it was going to be a war movie but it is much more a romantic with a war in the background. Black Hawk Down is a war movie. Pearl Harbour just has an entirely different feel to it. And yes, I agree with I think everyone here, I love Pearl Harbour and it'll always have a special place in my heart too.

[Plastic Flute]

I've never read this b4...hope its not a repeat.. but it kinda applys to what we are all talking about lately http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=10869