Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mark Ruffalo | ... | Brian Reilly | |
Ethan Hawke | ... | Paulie McDougan | |
Amanda Peet | ... | Stacy Reilly | |
Will Lyman | ... | Sully | |
Brian Goodman | ... | Pat Kelly | |
Donnie Wahlberg | ... | Detective Moran | |
Angela Featherstone | ... | Katie | |
Edward Lynch | ... | Jackie | |
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Michael Yebba | ... | Roundman / Old Lady (as Mike Yebba) |
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Brian Connolly | ... | Sean |
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Nathaniel Smyth | ... | Mark (5 Years Old) |
Oscar Wahlberg | ... | Mark (10 Years Old) | |
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Thomas Regan | ... | Young Paulie |
Johnny Serret | ... | Young Brian (as Jean Pierre 'JP' Serret) | |
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George Khoury | ... | Delivery Man |
An armored car is robbed by three men. A passing police officer and one of the robbers exchange fire. The robber is Paulie. In a flashback we follow him and his closest friend, Brian, as they grow up together in South Boston. They're tough guys, thugs, doing jobs for the local boss and chaffing to do more. Paulie's the leader. Brian drinks too much and free bases, ignoring his wife and two young boys. Life-changing events lead him to try to go straight, look for work, take what comes his way, and go to A.A. meetings. He struggles. Paulie shows him the plans for the armored car job. Will they do it? "I am who I am," Brian tells his wife. Is crime his only skill? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
This is a very underrated film. I think its a shame it never has gotten publicity. I randomly picked it up on the fly for free a local library on DVD and was amazed that I never even have heard of it. There are no gimmicks or high wire stunts this was true to life. We need more of these films to rejuvenate what the cinema has become lately. I was thoroughly impressed on all levels with this film. This could of done very well in the box office if it had marketing at the time. Sadly CGI and fake acting has trumped modern cinema lately. This gritty true to life story beats them all hands down. I give it an 8/10, simply based upon the rehashing of older story-lines together. It still holds its own charm. Rent this movie and you will be surprised how well it was done.