When you talk about great actors of the last twenty years the name Mickey Rourke comes to mind and with the career that he has had he just gets better and better as the years go on. This movie is an early film that shows an actor with more range in his performance than the character allows. Joining Rourke in this story are Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Burt Young, all of which are wonderful but the job done by Young, as the local gangster, stands out amongst them. Two cousins from New York's Little Italy try to get by each and every day, but after a scheme to make $150,000 from the wrong guy goes bad, their lives may have to be payment for restitution. Having the movie shot in New York City gives the film a completely authentic feel of the local neighborhood. The authenticity of the characters run the borderline of the common stereotypes of the times, the Italians are the criminals and the Irish are the cops and both are on the take. Rourke and Roberts show the real bond that is evident in most Italian families, and demonstrate just how far any of us would go for a member of our own family.
I have always liked this film, I think the final showdown between Rourke and Young is classic and brings the movie to a perfect conclusion. Even though this film was made 1984 it doesn't feel that dated, you can still go to some of the neighborhoods and get the same feel from the people there. If you've never seen this film, and like Rourke as an actor, you should find a copy of it and see for yourself how he got that air of confidence that has carried with him to this day.
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