Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Wyatt There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Michael Neumann Matt Dillon plays a hayseed crap shooter with unbeatable luck who, in late 1950s Chicago, joins a Windy City syndicate and falls hard for the femme fatale wife of an unscrupulous gambling boss. Despite some errors in casting this otherwise familiar urban crime story is, at least in presentation, a lot smarter than it may first appear. The relative youth of the two leads is fatally inconsistent with the very grown up crime and passion scenario, but director Ben Bolt wisely underplays the neo-Noir mood by refusing to rely on the trendy smoke-and-strobe-light pyrotechnics so common in modern thrillers. The gritty urban setting is instead recreated in all its cheap romantic glamour, and the script has its arcane gambling slang down pat, but the film is something of an anachronism in today's over-hyped market: a competent (if minor) drama, made thirty years too late.

michael Considering the big name cast and lavish production I expected a lot more of this film. The acting for the most part is great, although the story they have to work with is mediocre at best. However the film still warrants watching because of the acting and the stars and some and up and coming young talent.

lib-4 This is one of those movies you find on the television in the wee hours of the morning. Matt Dillon does a credible job as a young man trying to break into big time gambling- craps not a skilled game like poker. Of course, he is torn between two women- one good and one rather conniving. Tommy Lee Jones plays a man who wants to break this young upstart. The action is lively and the side stories keep the movie going. The music from the 50's is a nice addition to the sound track.

Rslevine terribly underrated with matt dillon and tom skerritt, good backdrop for solid story and some memorable lines, well acted and well cast, tommy lee jones and bruce dern make you hate them with passion