If you are like me then you spend much of the first few months of the year waiting for “that” action flick; waiting for the year’s first knock-down, drag-out bullet infested homage to people who kill people. These are not Oscar contenders and they are not always well received by critics, but when you take them for what they are, then you have one hell of a ride ahead of you. Director Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces is that kind of film and more – a film that delivers pulse pounding action, an awesome cast of characters, and a little substance for good measure.

Coming off of the gritty, unrelenting cop drama Narc, Carnahan has made a film in Aces that gives one half the amount of grit, but delivers twice the amount of fun. The story centers around Buddy “Aces” Israel, played by the enigmatic Jeremy Piven. Israel, a popular Las Vegas performer and mob wannabe, has just turned state’s evidence for the FBI, and holds the key to taking down what is left of the Cosa Nostra – or the mob, for those of you who have never seen The Godfather.

Unwilling to let Israel go quietly, the mob puts a $1 million dollar bounty on his head and sicks every last sociopath with a gun on him. Alicia Keyes, Taraji Henson, Ben Affleck, Peter Berg, and Tommy Flanagan all show up as contract killer out for Israel’s blood. Caught in between are a pair of FBI Agents, played by Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta.

From the first moment of the film tension is building as Carnahan introduces these characters one by one, in a well paced and creative manner. The story doesn’t linger with any one plot line – it doesn’t have time. Where a less talented director would slow down and attempt to explain some of the more over-the-top plot points (such as why some of the hitmen are gaudy clichés or how Taraji Henson’s character got a 50 caliber gun), Carnahan pushes on and allows the characters to unfold on their own. Similar to Tarantino, Carnahan’s success is in that his story doesn’t linger, but he still gets us to buy into just about every unique character he has to offer.