Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

JohnnyLee1 Cast of truly unlikeable characters makes this difficult to really like but it has very strong actors in the roles and a grunge realism that is created perfectly by director Slattery. Portrays ambiguity of people. More comedic touches would have helped. A sweet-as-pie deadly sharp shooting florist, a truckload of meat that can't be given away, a body that doesn't stay still, etc., would have been comedy gold in any other movie. Running time: only 80 mins.

dansview What is it with this love affair people have with movies about east coast urban ethnics? I'm so sick of it. At least Deniro branched out a bit.Here's another story about inner city white Catholics drinking, fighting, and screwing. OK, we get it already.Hoffman is so fat. It's really remarkable that he looks the same in every film. He's short, has no muscle, and has that enormous beer belly. You would think he would have the discipline to alter his look for different roles. I don't buy him as Italian or whatever the heck he was supposed to be. But he is talented in his understated way.John Turturro as a greasy inner city thug? There's a stretch.If both the murdered kid's parents are reasonably calm people, how did he wind up being almost like a feral alley cat? That seemed unrealistic.I do get it that the dilemmas that Hoffman goes through are just vehicles to highlight the different characters in the neighborhood and the overall vicious cycle of it all.But in these movies, you rarely see anyone engaged in anything other than a stereotype. Where was the parish priest? Does anyone work a normal job? Does anyone play an instrument or coach little league? Generally speaking, working class Catholics do get into a lot of mischief world wide. I'm not disputing that. But even in a neighborhood like the one here, there are plenty of exceptions. Although we don't see them.The most interesting aspect was the question of whether the columnist truly respects a certain dignity in the people, or is simply an educated elitist lampooning them for educated readers. Even he isn't sure. Furthermore, he is as sleazy as them. He drinks, he's a horn dog, and he's lazy. In some sense, he sees himself ironically in the people he is writing about.I think he was trying to explain that irony to the lady when he says that he's 60 and the city loves him.As others have said, there was no indication of it taking place in modern times, but also no obvious references to retro culture. I suppose the fact that people read a print paper for their information says it all.If you don't mind gratuitous violence, ugly sex, and loads of profanity, give it a try for its characterizations and atmosphere. I wish I hadn't.

FreddyShoop It's unfortunate that this is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's last serious movies, because his and the rest of the performances are pretty much dead on arrival and completely forgettable. He was much better in his other late film "A Most Wanted Man." (However, neither performance show the subtle and dynamic range he showed in The Master)The description of the plot in IMDb is a JOKE! If you see that plot in THIS movie, then you must be Superman...because you can see through everything.The folks who are talking about "character development" must be nuts. Most of the time we have no idea why anyone is actually doing anything, let alone do we see how the events in the movie change their characters.In retrospect, I wouldn't have bothered with this movie. This is the problem with actors becoming first time directors. Film is a director's medium, and Slattery isn't one (at least not yet).

Joe Day I just saw this son Netflix and said to myself, whoa, this looks familiar and it was! I forgot I had reviewed it a year ago. In that time, it has not gotten any better. It reminds me of all of those British (Irish, Scottish) films out today, full of despicable people living despicable lives generation after generation, drinking, drugged-out, totally godless people and we are supposed to care about them.I am equally confounded how so many films today feature adultery, infidelity, etc. and yet, never do any of the couples behave as if they took any vows at all - never any searching above for answers never ever considering what marriage really means, never ever calling on any "faith" to see them through.ORIGINAL REVIEW I know it is cliché, but this is a couple of hours I will never get back. What is this flick supposed to be about anyway? The mob? A cover-up? Racism? Your guess is as good as mine.I could not say the performances were great because the storyline is lacking. Why, for example, was everyone so intimidated by Hoffman's character? Is he "connected" or what? It sure did not seem like it. What was with all the "goons" sent out to break a few legs? For what? The undertaker? One minute is is shaking in his boots, the next he has his own boys exact a little justice.The stepson? Seriously? The guy was nuttier than a fruitcake and we are supposed to believe his vestal mother (or anybody else) thought him a good boy? And again, why was everyone so afraid of Hoffman? Why were so many characters (eg Turturo) who were supposed to be tough be so apparently not? Not even in an all-mob-guys-act-tough-but-really-are-just cowards-at-heart way.The mother character (as played by that woman from Mad Men,) was embarrassing and reminded me of a performance Jayne Mansfield might have given had she been trying to prove she could "act." And the reporter guy from Six Feet Under (whose work I generally like) was a cartoon too. And why take us back to explain how the whole thing started? What "whole thing"?The huge funeral - for this little creep? Were the mourners "obligated to go" in an allegiance-to-the-mob kind of way? The horse betting? The small potatoes chits? These "big shots" who sweat over a $6,000 funeral? The "I know he didn't die like they said" stuff? I mean, come on: you'd think she'd be surprised that his body ended up in one piece!I don't know. Maybe I should have read the book, or will (might). Otherwise, calling this a dark comedy seems a bit desperate and only come up with after the creative team saw what it had. The ending seems slapped on and proves that for me. Nonsensical. I hate when I can anticipate the movie ending and not knowing what the hell I just saw. When you sit there going, huh, you mean that's it?