Smokin' Aces is so obviously derivative of Guy Ritchie's bloody, hyperkinetic style of ensemble crime flick, it could have been called "Lock, Stock and Two Smokin' Aces."

Writer-director Joe Carnahan also channels Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott with his hip dialogue and high body count. Which is a shame, because Carnahan clearly has the capability of establishing a voice of his own: His previous films include the intelligent, vastly superior detective drama Narc from 2002.

But amid all the freakish and sadistic hit men (and women) converging on Lake Tahoe for the $1 million prize to assassinate magician Buddy "Aces" Israel, it's impossible to care about or root for a single one of them. They're all such self-consciously two-dimensional villains - and that especially extends to Israel himself, played by Jeremy Piven with an obnoxious mix of coked-up bravado and bleary-eyed paranoia. (By now we are fully aware that the "Entourage" star has mastered fast-talking arrogance and abuse. He seriously needs to show us he can do something else.)

After spending a little time with this guy, and the various thugs and hookers who surround him in his lavish penthouse suite, seeing him taken out wouldn't be such a bad thing - except that would mean some other despicable figure has succeeded.