Runtime:
102 minutes
Directed
by: Peter Yates
Starring:
Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Steven Keats, Alex Rocco
From:
Paramount
Here's a classic movie I have had on disc for a long while and yet foolishly I did not check it out until last night. I say that it is worthy of being watched by everyone, and I give the details in my Letterboxd review below, which I have formatted differently and I may do it that way from now on:
Sometimes I have the bad habit of purchasing a movie on disc then waiting years before actually watching it. This movie falls into that category, even though it was a Criterion release and I had heard strong recommendations for it from other people. Well, last night was finally the night where I pulled the trigger, and I should have my hand in a drawer than have it slammed shut for not seeing this much sooner when I had the opportunity to.
It is a downbeat yet still interesting movie about various low-level criminals in Boston. The titular Eddie Coyle (what an outstanding performance by Robert Mitchum as someone who is the opposite of a stylish badass and instead is a gruff old man who is a lowlife) is a gun-runner and is about to go to prison for getting busted w/ a truck of booze. There is a Federal Agent who could help him if he “turns rat” and gives information which would lead to those friends (they are only pals in the loosest sense) being arrested. These reprobates include bank robbers and another gun-runner... named Jackie Brown. It's obvious who is a big fan of this motion picture. There are no real “good guys” here as even the member of law enforcement is rather shady in how he acts... yet it's all very compelling.
This is not a glamorous movie at all. There's understated direction from the great Peter Yates as Mitchum's house is modest at best, he living with a wife and three young children. The characters hang out in blue-collar settings from a grocery store parking lot to outside a bowling alley, a diner, restaurants, bars... yet it's great to watch as the characters are interesting and you are wondering what will happen next and if Coyle will save his own skin by ratting out his compatriots. The rest of the cast acts admirably (including the likes of Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Steven Keats as Jackie Brown and Alex Rocco) but it's Old Bob who delivered the best performance. All of it is spellbinding to watch, especially several very tense sequences where things could go very wrong.
What a great crime drama this was. It's unsentimental and straight to the point while we follow these petty characters who perform petty crimes and wonder who will screw over who, and if Eddie can come out a winner. There's the bonus of a quality jazzy-funky score from Dave Grusin. Don't make the same mistake I made and delay watching this if you have the opportunity to.
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