25th Hour (DVD)

Spike Lee's 25TH HOUR, about the last day of freedom for Monty Brogan (Edward Norton), is a rich tapestry of life that contains more memorable performances than you can count. Opening in 2003 in most parts of the country, it is counted for Academy purposes as a 2002 film, and, since it is one of last year's best films, one hopes that it will garner several awards. In addition to Lee's and Norton's work, Oscar consideration should be given to Philip Seymour Hoffman's supporting role and to Terence Blanchard's music. Without any of his usual racial polemics, Lee weaves a gripping tale about a personable guy, Monty, whom we first meet when he is befriending a nearly dead dog, who bites him in the process. Monty is "going to hell for seven years," after being convicted of drug dealing on schoolyards, no less. Like an addict who couldn't quit, Monty liked the money and the life it gave him, including a beautiful and supportive girlfriend, Naturelle Riviera (Rosario Dawson). In a flashback we see that he met Naturelle when he was dealing drugs at her school. Very careful to ascertain that she was eighteen, Monty apparently worried more about statutory rape charges than he did prosecution for dealing weed.