Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Last updated:
June 27, 2025

Lucky Number Slevin is a 2006 neo-noir crime thriller directed by Paul McGuigan and written by Jason Smilovic. It’s a stylish, twist-heavy film that plays with mistaken identity, revenge, and deception—all wrapped in a sharp, witty script and a labyrinthine plot. Beneath its snappy dialogue and slick visuals lies a brutal story of long-brewing vengeance.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Setup: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Slevin Kelevra (played by Josh Hartnett) arrives in New York to stay at his friend Nick Fisher’s apartment. He’s mugged on the way and loses his ID. Once in the apartment, he’s quickly mistaken for Nick by two powerful crime lords—the Boss (Morgan Freeman) and the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley)—who both believe Nick owes them large sums of money. Because they think he’s Nick, they drag him into their criminal schemes.

Slevin, who appears to be laid-back and oddly calm, is caught in the middle of a brewing gang war and seems to have no way out. Meanwhile, a mysterious assassin named Mr. Goodkat (Bruce Willis) lurks in the background, seemingly pulling strings from the shadows.

The Kansas City Shuffle

A major thematic element in the movie is the idea of a “Kansas City Shuffle”—a misdirection so complete that you never even realize you’re being misdirected. This is the lens through which the entire film must be viewed.

Slevin is asked by the Boss to kill the son of the Rabbi (who’s actually the Boss’s rival), in order to cancel Nick’s supposed debt. The Rabbi, in turn, thinks Slevin (still believing he’s Nick) owes him money and threatens him separately. Meanwhile, Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) is suspicious of all the activity and begins tailing Slevin.

Mr. Goodkat’s Involvement and Flashbacks

The plot begins to unravel through flashbacks. We learn that Mr. Goodkat is not just some hired gun—he’s deeply involved in the central revenge plot. Years ago, two crime bosses (who are now the Boss and the Rabbi) had a man killed for cooperating with the police. That man had a wife and son. Mr. Goodkat was ordered to kill the boy, but instead, he secretly raised him as an assassin.

That boy? Slevin.

Movie Ending

In the final act, all the pieces come together in a bloody, masterful reveal.

Slevin isn’t just some guy who got dragged into the underworld by accident—he has orchestrated the entire setup as part of an elaborate revenge plot. His real name isn’t Slevin Kelevra. He is the boy whose parents were killed by the Boss and the Rabbi decades earlier. Raised by Mr. Goodkat, he grew up planning vengeance down to the last detail.

He kills both the Boss and the Rabbi, making their deaths look like the result of their rivalry. He also eliminates the Rabbi’s son, fulfilling the fake hit request. Mr. Goodkat helps clean up the mess.

In the very end, Slevin reveals the truth to Detective Brikowski, who also had a role in his father’s downfall. Brikowski is left unharmed but shaken.

Slevin then reunites with Lindsey (Lucy Liu), the cheerful neighbor he’s fallen for during the events of the film. Despite all the deception and murder, their connection seems genuine. The final shot shows them together, leaving the city with a sense of closure and a future ahead—something the boy from Kansas City never thought he’d have.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Lucky Number Slevin does not have a post-credits scene. Once the movie ends, the story is complete and wrapped up with no tease of a sequel or follow-up.

Type of Movie

Lucky Number Slevin is a neo-noir crime thriller with elements of black comedy, revenge drama, and mystery. It blends the sharp dialogue and misdirection of a con film with the stylish brutality of a noir revenge story.

Cast

Josh Hartnett as Slevin Kelevra
Bruce Willis as Mr. Goodkat
Lucy Liu as Lindsey
Morgan Freeman as The Boss
Ben Kingsley as The Rabbi
Stanley Tucci as Detective Brikowski
Danny Aiello as Roth

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by J. Ralph, combining jazzy, moody, and minimalist tones that support the film’s noir aesthetic. The soundtrack also includes vintage tracks and stylish cues that complement its dark, sleek vibe.

Filming Locations

The movie was primarily filmed in Montreal, Quebec, with select scenes shot in New York City. Montreal was chosen for its cost-effectiveness and versatile architecture that could easily double for New York while providing a slightly stylized, “out-of-time” atmosphere that enhances the film’s surreal noir tone.

Awards and Nominations

While Lucky Number Slevin didn’t win major awards, it received praise for its screenplay and style. It gained cult status over time due to its clever twists and rewatchability. Bruce Willis and Morgan Freeman were particularly praised for their restrained yet intense performances.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Josh Hartnett wore the same bathrobe for most of the movie—deliberately, to portray a calm, passive front that masked deeper intentions.
The film was originally titled “The Wrong Man”, a nod to its Hitchcockian themes.
Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley reportedly never met on set; their scenes were filmed separately and stitched together seamlessly.
Director Paul McGuigan emphasized symmetry and clean lines in shots to mirror the meticulous nature of Slevin’s plan.

Inspirations and References

The term “Kansas City Shuffle” is real slang used to describe a con or misdirection.
The film draws inspiration from film noir classics and revenge thrillers like The Usual Suspects, The Sting, and Oldboy.
There are also literary echoes of The Count of Monte Cristo, with themes of patient, calculated revenge.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There were no major alternate endings known, but the DVD includes deleted scenes, most of which are extensions of existing sequences—mainly character moments between Slevin and Lindsey that were trimmed for pacing. None of the deleted content alters the film’s core plot.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Lucky Number Slevin is not based on a book. It’s an original screenplay written by Jason Smilovic. However, its style and themes borrow heavily from noir literature and crime fiction.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The Boss explaining the hit job while casually feeding Slevin a sandwich.
The Rabbi interrogating Slevin in his kosher lair.
The moment when Slevin shoots both crime lords, revealing his true identity.
Mr. Goodkat narrating the real story in flashback.

Iconic Quotes

“The Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left.”
“I’m not the guy you kill. I’m the guy you buy off.”
“Wrong place at the wrong time? That’s the story of my life.”
“My name isn’t Slevin.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The name Slevin Kelevra is a play on “Goodkat” in Hebrew (“Kelev Ra” means “Bad Dog”).
Slevin’s ever-present bathrobe becomes a visual cue for the audience’s false sense of his vulnerability.
The Boss and the Rabbi never appear in the same shot—symbolizing their separation and building mystery.
The clocks in the background are almost always off-time, hinting at the film’s distorted chronology and misdirection.

Trivia

The film’s screenplay was written in the late ’90s but took nearly a decade to reach production.
Bruce Willis took a pay cut because he believed in the project.
Ben Kingsley insisted on using his character’s real name, Shlomo, to add depth and authenticity.

Why Watch?

If you’re into smartly written crime thrillers, unpredictable twists, and snappy dialogue, Lucky Number Slevin is a must-watch. It’s perfect for fans of layered storytelling where nothing is what it seems, and the payoff is both emotionally satisfying and narratively tight. Plus, the performances are killer, especially Bruce Willis’s cold-blooded mentor/assassin role.

Director’s Other Movies

Push (2009)
Victor Frankenstein (2015)
Wicker Park (2004)
Gangster No. 1 (2000)
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017)

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)