Director Paul McGuigan (Wicker Park, Gangster Number One) is quick to set the tone for his latest movie Lucky Number Slevin. Spliced into the opening credits are grizzly shots of bookkeepers snuffed out in cold blood. We are then taken to an airline transfer lobby where a traveller's (Sam Jaeger) attempt to snooze is interrupted by a wheelchair bound Mr. Smith (Bruce Willis). Using gritty flashbacks to the late 70s, Smith recounts a dark and bloody tale of a family killed by mobsters when a man loses $20,000 at the racetrack. Smith introduces the term 'Kansas City shuffle' which is basically gamblers' slang for misdirection, and this forms the prime strategy of the script.

Now the story begins: A young guy called Slevin (Josh Hartnett) comes to New York to visit his old friend Nick. Shortly after arriving Nick's apartment, Slevin learns from neighbour Lindsey (Lucy Liu) that his friend is missing. Slevin (wearing only a towel and a cheeky smile) makes light of her Scobby-Doo style theories until a pair for thugs show up and mistake Slevin for Nick. They drag him before 'The Boss' (Morgan Freeman) who claims that he owes him $96,000. The Boss is willing to forgive the debt, if Slevin kills the son of underworld rival 'The Rabbi'. Still wearing towel, Slevin engages in wise cracks and protests of innocence, which earns him a broken nose.

Back at the apartment, Slevin hasn't even time to consider this offer before pair of Jewish goons drag him off to see their boss 'The Rabbi' (Ben Kingsley), who also insists Slevin owes him money too. Later the wheelchair-free Smith reappears as a hitman doing business with both the Boss and the Rabbi, while Slevin finds himself under surveillance by a detective called Brikowski (Stanley Tucci). Nothing, of course, is quite what it seems, which you know all along. Liberties are taken at your expensive and if you've being playing attention, you'll feel conned at the finale.

At its heart, Lucky Number Slevin is a style driven, Tarantino-esque tale of mistaken identity. With its quick dialogue and impressive cast, it makes a highly entertaining film. On the flipside, the Scottish director risks losing the viewer in confusing subplots, random characters, and lightning editing. There are many cinematic influences here, from the True Romance style quirkiness of Slevin and Lindney's affair, to the Pulp Fiction approach that allows characters to discuss favourite movies and comics. Even the film's conclusion pulls together the missing pieces in a narrative style similar to The Usual Suspects.

Hartnett is surprisingly good as the unlucky Slevin. Normally cast as eye candy, he shows us his 'bad boy' side, although his smartass comments to criminal kingpins pushes the script's credibility. Lucy Liu projects a fresh and flirty persona with great ease. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley are never pushed to the limit of their abilities; sadly this is a missed opportunity. McGuigan's only real failing with Lucky Number Slevin is that he attempts to breathe new life into a 'gangster genre' that already sleeps with the fishes.

Rated 18 (see IFCO website for details)
Lucky Number Slevin is released on 24th February 2006.