Lucky Number Slevin (2006) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in New York City, a bustling urban environment that serves as the backdrop for the dangerous conflict between the two crime bosses. The city setting emphasizes the underground nature of the criminal world the characters navigate.

• new york city
• setting
• location
• urban setting

The story is set in present-day but heavily references events from twenty years earlier. This two-decade gap is central to understanding the characters' motivations and the revenge plot that drives the narrative.

• time period
• present day
• flashback
• twenty years

Identity is a central theme, primarily through Slevin's mistaken identity as Nick Fisher. This case of mistaken identity leads to life-threatening consequences, and the film ultimately reveals Slevin's true identity as Henry, connecting to his family's legacy.

• identity
• mistaken identity
• slevin kelevra
• nick fisher
• henry

Revenge drives the entire plot as Slevin seeks to avenge his father's murder. The film explores how vengeance creates a violent cycle that spans generations, with Slevin meticulously planning his revenge against those responsible.

• revenge
• father murder
• vengeance cycle

Deception is woven throughout the narrative, most notably through the 'Kansas City Shuffle', a double-bluff strategy that exemplifies the film's many plot twists. Characters constantly manipulate each other, challenging viewers to question what is real.

• deception
• kansas city shuffle
• double bluff
• plot twists

Goodkat, played by Bruce Willis, is a cunning and manipulative character who operates behind the scenes. He appears to be a mentor figure to Slevin but harbors complex, layered intentions that gradually unravel throughout the film.

• goodkat
• bruce willis
• mentor
• manipulative

Slevin Kelevra, portrayed by Josh Hartnett, is an ordinary man mistaken for someone else and dragged into a deadly game between two mob bosses. Throughout the story, he transforms from victim to orchestrator of revenge after discovering his true heritage.

• slevin kelevra
• josh hartnett
• main character
• heritage

Lindsey, played by Lucy Liu, is Nick's neighbor who becomes an emotional anchor for Slevin. She works as a mortuary attendant, giving her a unique perspective on death and loss that resonates with the film's darker themes.

• lindsey
• lucy liu
• neighbor
• mortuary

The Rabbi, played by Ben Kingsley, and The Boss, played by Morgan Freeman, are the two powerful crime bosses whose rivalry forms the backbone of the film's conflict. Both are driven by vendettas and become entangled in Slevin's revenge plot.

• the rabbi
• ben kingsley
• the boss
• morgan freeman
• mob bosses

Slevin's traumatic backstory involves the murder of his family when he was a child, an event that sets him on his path of revenge. This childhood tragedy haunts him throughout the film and explains his relentless pursuit of vengeance against the mob bosses.

• childhood trauma
• family murder
• backstory
• victim