Petia Vladimirova Well... I just cannot give this movie more than five stars. Where I am supposed to start from? Presence of Michael Wincott wasn't enough to make a good movie, even watching hi losing his nerves and being vulnerable, being a human being and a good guy after all his villain characters he played. First is the lazy atmosphere. There wasn't even one minute of this movie to makes me feel like I am in the game, to feel what characters feels. Yeah, I was about to puke when they shot that guy at the face, but nothing more. Music was like at senior club, all guys looks like past criminals, the story didn't got me either. And on the top of it Melisa, Frankie's girl chose that poorly maintained guy instead of her man? Seriously? Since when fat unshaven drunk guys wearing crumpled t-shirt became attractive? I feel I lost my time watching this, moreover it was such a hell to find movie that old. There were a few good lines ti remember, so it wasn't completely worthless, I guess.

elshikh4 Actually the idea of one gangster who wants to be educated by that unemployed writer is quite brilliant. It has one great irony which could make a fine comedy, a good Action or a nice drama about the difference between the 2 worlds of them both. The movie cleverly tried to make a strange romance out of it with some thrill yet with a character's analysis that really says a lot about the personality of the contemporary cultured.I love it all together; the simple direction, the effective acting, the bluesy music. It was all about the fallen world of (Jake Bridges) and how this gifted man just loses it when he confines himself faraway beyond the factual humans & things, to become that isolated literate who cut all the bridges and had nothing to present nor to tell. But now the story to till about (or to report about to be precise !) is the life of that gangster who's shown as more sincere, honest and ethical ! It's that marvelous situation of one conscious brain but inanimate, and one twisted muscle but so active. So of course the world will be for the second man and when that second also searches for goodness, then the love too will be for him ! It's (Casablanca) again ! But with the famous sentimental exile as a modern cultured person who's less idealistic than the gangster ! Therefore the end here was ingenious with (Frankie McGregor/Michael Wincott) and (Melissa/Diane Lane) being together free under the sun - as he deserves her better - and (Jake Bridges/William Petersen) is in jail (metaphorically his own jail of misgivings) writing at last as he finally lived one experience to write about which came from his late interaction with real people, but again he was writing about them from the same idiot perspective : (I miss them. It's strange. The people whom you'd think that you would never love.. are the very ones whom last in your memory !) look at his ever dull point of view (you'd think that you would never love..) he still treats according to previous concept as they're all lower than him and he sadly still denies his love for them (they just in his memory !) even if they're fun to remember and painful to miss !So what's the motif of that (Rick Blaine)'s ugly new copy ? It's the human journey in the big world just to discover oneself ! and the self of that gallant authentic gangster was wanting such a good place in real life, so he won love. And that swindler learned loiterer who wants a book, money or even the same love perhaps will get everything except love. Why is that ?! Maybe because he was loving himself all along, seeing no one anyone except himself ! Or maybe because he is the perfect exile cultured who is meaner and less strong-willed than the ex-criminal. So what a satire this movie presents against (Bridges), and his likes, as the real criminal who's too detained and barren to learn or feel anything true and lasting.

saedy Acting was pretty incredible, I didn't realize Diane Lane had that much talent. Great scenery of Atlantic City, movie wasn't predictable or boring at all, great chemistry between lead three.

Leechboy-2 Okay, it's one of the oldest plot lines in the gangster film genre, but if done well, the "man infiltrates vicious gang and finds himself loyal to the friend who got him in.". The cast is good, William Peterson has the downtrodden man character down pat these days, Diane Lane is serviceable, but the real surprises come by the way of Micheal Wincott finally playing a sympathetic almost good-guy, and Eric Schaeffer for the first time in his life not being annoying on screen as the creepy hitman. Good dialogue, an abscence of bad acting, and dark look that hides its low budget origins. Definitely worth picking up from the video shop.