Anyone else's favorite movie?

25th Hour is one of my favorite films, and my fondness has nothing to do with the post 9/11 political undertones. Spike could have done without it, but it is his film and he can layer it the way he wants to. It did not take away from my experience. For me the film was about the masterful introduction and farewell to Monty Brogan.

Monty reminds me of Walter White. They are anti-heroes we begin to root for because in the end, they are far more relatable than any traditional hero or villain. The film did an exceptional job, given 2 hours runtime and a day in his life, subtly giving Monty that real layered quality. By the end I did not want the dog-saving loverboy to go to prison though he deserved it.

The ending is hauntingly ambiguous and hopeful, but only on first viewing and in ignorance. It was cleverly shot, perfectly delivered and its unambiguous closure buried in the monologue and cinematography. There was no hope. His father had driven past the exit and away from George Washington Bridge, a sure indication of where Monty was headed for the next 7 years. It is to date my favorite ending in a film.

The movie was a rare one for me and I enjoyed it deeply. The ending sealed the deal, but overall it combined great ambience, characterization, and manipulation of scope (individual to city and back). Subplots such as Frank's possible infatuation with Naturelle and "goody-two-shoes" Jacob's inappropriate and very much illegal behavior reinforced the message that none of us are truly good or bad, we are just *beep* if and when exposed.