Today’s Prayer Focus

25th Hour

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for strong language and some violence.
Moral Rating: not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Crime Drama
Length: 2 hr. 14 min.
Year of Release: 2002
USA Release:
Relevant Issues
Edward Norton in 25th Hour

About the fall of mankind to worldwide depravity

What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Is it just “bad people” that are sinners, or are YOU a sinner? Answer

Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer

How good is good enough? Answer

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Featuring Edward Norton, Barry Pepper, Rosario Dawson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox
Director Spike Lee
Producer Julia Chasman, Jon Kilik, Spike Lee, Tobey Maguire, Nick Wechsler
Distributor
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures (a division of Disney). Trademark logo.
Touchstone Pictures
, a division of Walt Disney Studios

Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—This film is very offensive but I give a positive take only because a good example of how not to live life is given. The movie probes some deep questions and the acting is decent, however if you’ve not seen some of the other current films like “The Two Towers” then those should come first. The movie is a good example of how disregard for God’s laws brings hell to life on Earth.
My Ratings: [Extremely Offensive / 4]
Bob C, age 39
Positive—“25th Hour” showcases absolutely phenomenal talent in many different areas, and it is one of the best films of 2002. It is wonderfully written, acted, photographed, and directed. It is, in my opinion flawless.

The film stars Edward Norton, one of the best actors out there right now, as Monty, a drug-dealer who is about to be sent away to prison for 7 years. The DEA has been tipped off by someone as to his involvement in a drug cartel, and they expect him to turn over his boss. When he won’t, jail is a certainty. So here he is, on his last day of freedom, before willingly going to jail.

But the film is about more than just him. It is about his girlfriend, his father, and his friends, and every role is juicy. We get to know each and every character extremely well, and that is testament to the wonderful acting. Barry Pepper was the biggest surprise. He has always been a wonderful actor, but this character is very different from anything I’ve ever seen him play. As well, the Philip Seymour Hoffman character, and his struggles with his female student, Mary, played by Anna Paquin, really serves as a wonderful microcosm for the film as a whole. And he is once again brilliant. (When will Hoffman win an Oscar? He deserves four by my count.)See all »
My Ratings: [Average / 5]
Jason Eaken, age 19
Positive—This is a movie that will make you think for days and days after seeing it. As is his nature, Spike Lee pushes the envelope between provocative and inappropriate. In 25th Hour, he digs deep into our souls, forcing us to wrestle with the sympathy we feel for Edward Norton’s character, a good-hearted man who is about to begin a 7-year sentence for selling drugs. While it could be easy as a Christian to justify prison as the consequence for a life of wickedness, this film doesn’t let you off that easily. Although he expresses deep sadness and fear in the hours before his departure—not unlike what Jesus went through at Gethsemane, Monty ultimately faces up to his punishment in a couple of beautiful scenes with his father. The cast is superb as each character, especially Monty’s two best friends, bring a unique set of challenges to the story.

Set in New York, 25th Hour is laden with references to 9/11. Since the story is based on a book written before 9/11, Spike Lee didn’t have to include anything relating to the WTC tragedy, but if anyone has the boldness to remind us of 9/11, it would be Spike Lee. I believe it’s artfully done especially in the opening credits where some post 9/11 postcard-like shots of lower Manhattan, tell the whole story.

There are plenty of f-bombs, especially in an unforgettable mirror scene, but in light of the events, they’re not out of place or gratuitous.

There are two violent scenes as well, but for similar reasons, they’re well-suited to the story. It’s an R-rated movie, for adults only. “25th Hour” is not for everyone, but as a Christian and Spike Lee fan, I enjoyed it tremendously. It will be talked about for a long time.
My Ratings: [Better than Average / 5]
Andrew Kagan, age 31
Negative
Negative—This is the most offensive film I have seen in years. I am particularly speaking of a specific scene where the main character (Monty) played by Edward Norton stands in front of the mirror and cusses the f-word at every religion and ethnic group in the world, including our Lord Jesus. I can’t believe that he used the f-word saying: “and f*** Jesus Christ.” From Deuteronomy 5:11, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
My Ratings: [Extremely Offensive / 2½]
Joseph, age 28