Watch By the Gun For Free

So much average

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

I won't say this film is a pure masterpiece but it is definitely a good film noir. I admit it is slow, sometimes a little too long on some scenes, such as this one in the warehouse and borrowed from RESERVOIR DOGS, with a little too much talking. But the story, even foreseeable and cliché on some points, reminds me Phil Joanou's STATE OF GRACE, remember, starring Sean Penn, another film noir involving friends, brother and the gang, where Ed Harris could be imagined in the Harvey Keitel role. Yes, I definitely love this little unknown, at least, not known enough, feature very dark, gloomy and not for all audiences. I have seen many of this kind and have hundreds of those in my huge Library. I will never get tired of that. Never, over my dead body.

I was surprised this film was rated below 5. I can understand why the average viewer might not find this movie satisfying, because the ending is unexpectedly sad and very unlike most Hollywood mobster films in which the protagonist either survives or sacrifices himself to save another sympathetic character who escapes with a secure future. Neither outcome happens here, which is completely consistent with the realistic vibe it maintains throughout. The acting performances are all excellent and believable. Even the typecast Harvey Keitiel makes you forget all the other mobster characters he's played. In this film, he's Sal, not Harvey. The scenes with newcomer Slaine are especially engaging as his character increasingly asserts his street cred to the wavering Nick. In a way, this is almost an "art film" version of a mob story. They manage to convey character conflicts and brutal violence without glorifying the action (and with zero police presence or shootouts or cars blowing up!) In short, a refreshing albeit depressing deviation from the usual crime movie, but solid and worth a view.

Set in Boston we meet Nick Tortano (Ben Barnes) he works for Salvatore Vitaglia (Harvey Keitel) in what is seen as the dying days of Sicilian mob rule – with the new eastern Europeans taking over. Nick just wants to be a 'made man' and in doing so has become estranged to his father, but has a best bud in George (Slaine) who sort of gives him a leg up – but he has more of a taste for wanton killing than does Nick.Throw into the mix a little illicit gambling, the ubiquitous lap dancing club and a stereotype Mafiosi or two and you have the general ingredients for a decent film. But this has all the pieces in the wrong place, the slow burn lacks any menace to keep you interested and when the violence does come it is so rushed that you could almost miss it. There is no exploration of the new wave of gangsters or the police doing a single thing – which is a bit odd but would have added something to an otherwise stagily linear narrative. No-one was dusting off the awards cabinet for this one either, but Slaine was good and Keitel can do no wrong. Barnes as a lead was just too nice to be convincing, but did a fair fist of it. This is one that is probably OK for a rental with some beers, as indeed I did, but it is no way going to be a keeper. If you love all things mob related then it is probably worth a go, but do not expect to be blown away.

It's Difficult to Make a Boring Mafia Movie. There is So Much Gold to Mine that Even a Half-Hearted Dip Into the Dirt and You Can Dig Up Some Old Bones Worth Studying. So Why is this Wannabe So Dull, Unconvincing, and Bad.Well, the Movie has No Soul. it is a Lackluster Affair with Less Rhythm than a White Rapper. It Spits and Sputters its Uninteresting Story Delivering Cliché Upon Cliché. Hell, Clichés are Clichés for a Reason. They are Tried and True Things That Work. But Not Here.The Movie has Some Bad Acting with Character's Meant to Be Edgy, Spouting Middle of the Road Rants About This and That. It is So Familiar and Shop Worn it Leaves the Movie with No Room to Entertain, At All.A Couple of Scenes Show Some Zip and Promise, Like the Confrontation Between Nick and His "Friend" (Slaine), as Nick Must Confront the Fact that He is a "Poser". Harvey Keitel and Toby Jones are Wasted. In Fact Their Performances are So Restrained and Sleepy, Maybe They Both Were Wasted. Who Knows.This Movie is Simply Not Entertaining and is Guilty of Playing Around in the Mob Genre where it is Not Recommended to Venture Unless You've Got a Pair. This Thing is a Eunuch.