| Quality Cast, Gripping Story, Terrific Music |  |
Four young boys are growing up in the mid-1960's in NYC's Hell's Kitchen. The boys -- Shakes (Joseph Perrino), Michael (Brad Renfro), John (Geoffrey Wigdor) and Tommy (Jonathan Tucker) -- aren't really bad boys, just kids living in a rough neighborhood. They fall under the influence of the 'hood's Mafia leader, King Benny (Vittorio Gassman) but also have a solid friendship with their neighborhood priest, Father Bobby (Robert De Niro).
When they're 14, a foolish prank costs an innocent man his life and they're sent away to reform school where they immediately become targets for the loathesome Sean Nokes (Kevin Bacon), a brutal guard who is the ringleader of a group of guards who molest and beat the boys.
Thirteen years later, all grown up, Tommy (Billy Crudup) and John (Ron Eldard) are Hell's Kitchen thugs while Shakes (Jason Patric) is a low-level newspaper employee and Michael (Brad Pitt) is an assistant district attorney. Their childhood friend Carol (Minnie Driver), now a social worker, is still loyal to all of them.
When Tommy and John encounter the despicable Sean Nokes dining at a local bar and grill, they take the opportunity to exact revenge upon him by murdering him in cold blood -- with four witnesses present.
Shakes and Michael conspire and hatch a plan to not only get Tommy and John off but also to take revenge on the other guards who Sean Nokes lead to ravage the boys when they were young.
While Michael arranges to take on the case to prosecute Tommy and John, King Benny hires an alcoholic, loser attorney (Dustin Hoffman) to defend the boys.
Will the plan work? Will Father Bobby aid the cause?
A masterful ensemble of actors. Directed by Barry Levinson who is known for his films about male bonding (Diner, Tin Men, Avalon, Rain Man). Fabulous music from the '60s and '70s. Haunting sets and cinematography
Bruno Kirby appears as Shakes' alcoholic father.
I highly recommend this one if you can handle the intensity. Be warned that it is long but can easily be viewed in two sections -- when the boys are young and then when they've grown up.
Two-disc set.
Rated R for language, graphic violence and two scenes of strong sexual content.
viewed Feb-2006
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