Watch 25th Hour

25th Hour is a powerful, character-driven drama from acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. The film stars Edward Norton as Monty Brogan, a convicted drug dealer who has just been sentenced to seven years in prison. The story is set in the 24 hours leading up to Monty's surrender, giving us a glimpse into his life and the lives of those around him as they come to terms with his impending incarceration.

The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by David Benioff, who also wrote the screenplay. The story is set against the backdrop of post-9/11 New York City, and the city itself becomes a character in the film. The opening credits sequence, set to the haunting sounds of David Bowie's "The Bewlay Brothers," shows a montage of images of the city in the aftermath of the attacks. The film makes frequent reference to the events of September 11th, but it never feels exploitative or heavy-handed. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the trauma and uncertainty of that time, and how it affected the lives of ordinary people.

Monty is a complex and flawed character, and Norton's performance is one of the film's greatest strengths. He is at once tough and vulnerable, charismatic and self-destructive. We see him spending time with his girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), his childhood friends Frank (Barry Pepper) and Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and his father (Brian Cox). Each of these relationships is fraught with tension and conflict, as Monty tries to come to terms with his past and his future.

Frank and Jacob are both successful in their own careers, which only highlights Monty's own failure. Frank is a successful stockbroker with a beautiful wife and child, while Jacob is a struggling high school teacher with a crush on one of his students. Their interactions with Monty are often strained, as they struggle to reconcile their loyalty to him with their own success.

Naturelle is perhaps the most enigmatic character in the film. Monty loves her, but he is haunted by the suspicion that she may have been the one who tipped off the police about his drug dealing. Dawson's performance is subtle and nuanced, and she never gives away whether or not Naturelle is guilty of the crime Monty suspects her of.

Throughout the film, Lee uses a variety of techniques to heighten the sense of tension and impending doom. He employs a distinctive visual style, with bold colors and bold camera angles that make the streets of New York seem simultaneously vibrant and menacing. He also uses music to great effect, with a soundtrack that features artists like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Clash.

But perhaps the most memorable scene in the film is a monologue delivered by Brian Cox, in which Monty's father gives him a brutal, unvarnished assessment of his life and his choices. The scene is shot in one long take, with Cox delivering his speech directly to the camera. It's a tour-de-force performance, and it crystallizes the film's themes of regret, redemption, and the weight of the past.

Overall, 25th Hour is a powerful and affecting film that will linger with you long after the credits roll. Lee's direction is confident and assured, and the performances from the entire cast are outstanding. It's a film that delves deep into the human experience, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that seems to be constantly closing in. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and seek it out - you won't be disappointed.

25th Hour is a 2002 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 69.