Superb!

Rating: 9/10 (5 April 2006)

As someone who knows with some intimacy the area and its people (Charlestown / East Boston) the acting has special impact and it is SUPERB as is Mr. Eastwood's direction - it is somewhat regrettable Clint caters to the anti-gun rhetoric of blaming 'a New Hampshire gun dealer' for the stolen gun (there are plenty of gun dealers in Mass. the gun could have been stolen from, citing NH is Massachusetts propaganda stuff) but then it is much the brainwashed mindset of the Boston area to demonize guns and anyplace like New Hampshire that is still free. All else about this film is first rate, gripping and worth watching more than once. Even the overrated Laurence Fishburne turns in a good performance: but Robbins, Penn, and Kevin Bacon are brilliant in capturing the essence of their characters and the area. Four plus stars (I reserve five for only the rarest, very best) HBH