What makes it different from others?

Good start, but then it gets ruined

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I really liked this movie. The background music set a perfect tone for this gritty film noir-ish indie. I thought many of the scenes were artistically framed using shadows, tilts and overhead shots. Also, great acting performances and/or screen presence by James Handy (priest), Oliver Platt, Malachy McCourt, Rosario Dawson, Ed Burns, John Coleman and Gregg Bello.A few drawbacks from not giving the movie a top rating: I thought Elijah Wood was miscast (although on 2nd and 3rd viewing I could accept him—and even got to like his performance—but it's the initial impression that usually makes or breaks it for a viewer). And I also was a bit turned off by the endless foul language.But all in all, a dark, moody artistic little movie that kept my attention throughout.

It has been three years since young Sean killed some local hoods to prevent them killing his older brother Francis. At the time it all blew over as parts of Sean's body were found to prove he had been "taken care of" for killing mobsters. However a sighting of Sean in a local bar suggests that he may not have been as dead as all that. Francis naturally plays down the rumours as being the malicious actions of his ex Maggie Shea. Meanwhile in Francis' flat, Sean regrets going out for a drink after laying low for three years as the rumours start to take hold.I could have written the plot summary to help this film out but I'm not sure why I owe it that so instead I have delivered it as it stands – lack of internal logic, holes and all. Where you have plot holes you usually need something to help cover it up but here there isn't really anything like pace, action or depth to help this out. The plot is very simplistic and I was looking for it to use this as a frame to step back into the characters but it never does – so I'm left with a lacklustre crime drama that crawls along, relying on the moment. Burns' script is obvious and I didn't buy into it at all – not the characters and certainly not the scenario.Ironically his biggest worry as director is his script because it does drag his film down. Visually he does well to build a shadowy vision of Hell's Kitchen. His use of music slows it all down further though, and I never really felt like this was actually set in the early 1980's. Putting himself in the lead was probably also a mistake as he has nobody to tell him that he is only a so-so job. However he is nothing to compare to the woefully miscast Wood, who isn't very good even if you ignore how very young and fresh he looks throughout. Dawson was the main reason I came to this film (sorry, but I would watch her in anything pretty much), but she isn't given much to do, although to her credit she tries to find the feelings that Burns' script doesn't give her. The support cast has by-the-numbers turns from Gerety, McCourt, Platt and others but nobody can find gold in the dirt.Overall then a plodding and rather uninteresting drama that is not as good as the names in the cast would suggest. Burns (or rather cinematographer Fines) gives the film a great look but nothing else is really there – the story only gets you so far and the characters are superficial and don't really have much in the way of development. Average at best and not really worth a look.

Since when did smart dialogue have to use obscenities as adjectives? this film did not ring true as no one, wherever you go, uses the profanity and obscenities which fell out of the sewer mouths of these moronic characters and they slurped through one drink after another. They drank from morning to night yet still remained standing. Whatever became of style and wit? The film is amateurish and woefully miscast. Elijah Wood was FAR too young and cherubic to play a married man with a child. The only saving grace was Malachi McCourt who fit the part of the local Irish kingpin perfectly with a saintly appearance which belied his gangster livelihood. This was one of those heavy-handed films where what was coming next whacked you over the head without any subtlety. The film was a poor man's rip off of Saving Grace.

First of all, it could have been shorter due to the redundant establishment of the primary story line. A couple more scenes of Ed Burns walking around the streets with that boring musical theme and I may have given up on this film.Elijah Wood was totally miscast. A more wrong casting of the role of Sean is not imaginable. OK, maybe imaginable if you include Pee Wee Herman. I agree with another writer here that Oliver Platt could've gotten some more dialog and scenes, but that's what it is. He probably liked the idea of playing a heavy for a change. He should do more I think.I figured the closing scenes to a "T"... from the saloon showdown to the reason for the crew cap and peacoat. I claim no particular brilliance, it seemed pretty obvious.All in all I'd say watch it when it appears on cable, save the rental fee. A 6.5 - 7.0 rating is generous but I like Ed Burns, stories about Irish street hoods and a plus when it's Hells Kitchen in NYC instead of the Southies. No offense Boston.