A forceful film, but not necessarily a good one. It is extremely heavy-handed, but the subject matter is never really as dour as it seems to think it is. Basically, the story revolves around a drug dealer (Edward Norton) who is going to be taken to prison 25 hours from when the film opens. This last day is spent reconnecting with his two best friends (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Pepper), his girlfriend (Rosario Dawson), whom he believes turned him in and his father (Brian Cox), as well as cutting ties to the Russian gangsters who were his bosses. All this takes place with the backdrop of September 11th. Oh, does Lee ever try hard to make that metaphor work. This was the first major film that directly referenced the terrorist attacks, and it probably seemed pretty strong for it at the time (over a year later). But, really, any metaphor Lee thinks he's making never really makes too much sense. I've seen people suggest Lee is metaphorically blaming the U.S. for 9/11. I doubt that's true, but it's an easily argued point. I really don't think Lee knows exactly what he wants to say here. The film is so oppressive in its dourness that it gets old pretty fast. The thing is, Norton's going to prison for seven years. That sucks. A lot. But, holy Hell, is this film obsessed with the idea that, the second Norton shows up in prison, it's going to be non-stop gang rape for the next seven years. Of course he's going to have to kick someone's ass the first day he's going to get there. That'll keep his butthole safe for a few hours. Seriously, folks, this stuff is nothing but movie clichés. It becomes almost laughable as 25th Hour goes on how obsessed Norton is with getting penetrated. So, really, the film is pretty thin. The heft that Lee shoves into his film never seems deserved. All that said, though, it's not a half bad film. Norton is excellent (though not especially believable as a drug dealer). I didn't like either Pepper or Hoffman - I've always hated the former and the latter just brings his standard sad-sack performance to the mix, which thankfully he's moved beyond by now. Dawson is pretty good, as is Cox. There are a lot of very well directed moments, but I honestly think Lee's done better in this decade, and certainly much better in the previous two.
