25th Hour MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

In this gloomy drama, Montgomery Brogan (Edward Norton) is a convicted drug dealer who has to report for the start of his seven-year sentence in 24 hours. On his last night of freedom, he goes out with his two childhood friends, Frank (Barry Pepper) and Jakob (Philip Seymour Hoffman), to spend one last night on the town. As the time for his departure nears on his final day in society, Montgomery has attempts to reconnect with his father, doubts whether his Puerto Rican girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) is the one who turned him in, and reflects on what lies ahead in prison. He believes that he is "too pretty" to survive prison. Set against the backdrop of New York City in the aftermath of the September 11 disaster, this Spike Lee movie shows a troubled man who has become disillusioned with the city, people and his life in general, who considers taking his own life.

While the film plays tribute to those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, 25th Hour is full of less redeeming qualities. Much of the story takes place in bars and nightclubs, with numerous scenes of drinking, smoking, drunkenness and scantily-clad patrons. The main character has a vicious tongue and a total lack of respect for most people. In one several-minute tirade, he curses blacks, cops, gays, Catholics, Asians, and other races, nationalities and professions, ending with a profanity-laced attack on Christ. All of the characters use foul language, and most are extremely disrespectful. References are made to drug dealing being bad, and the negative results of drugs are shown, but the characters' primary fear is getting caught. The constant barrages of profane and obscene language, some violence and the disrespectful attitudes in 25th Hour earn it Preview?s most severe negative acceptability rating.

Preview Reviewer: Bob Nusser
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures