Quite simply put, one of the best movies I've ever seen.

***SPOILERS****




I completely agree.

This film completely blew me away. I was expecting some moderatly entertaining hollywood crap, but quickly realized this is a gem.

The score, characters, setting, story...everything adds up to create this cynical, gritty, fatalistic and exceptionally congruent "feel" for the film. It is amazingly thorough in almost every aspect.

The score speaks for itself. I fell in love with the score already while changing subtitles in the DVD menu before even seeing the film. It compliments the film extremely well. It really emphasizes the darkness and sadness of the story. The neo-noir mood was amazing.

When looking at the story, I noticed one of the things that really made this film great for me. Although the story was engaging in itself, it is really the in depth look at the characters that drives the film. Liotta plays the tragic hero, who tries his best but inevitably fails in the end. Liottas best performance ever in my opinion. His inner conflicts become very evident. It is not a complex character, but I didn't see him as a complex person. Most of the characters are cynical, straight to the point stereotypes...but beautifully so with a touch of vulnerability.
Lapaglia's character is also brilliantly acted. I felt tense every second the bastard was onscreen.

There are so many memorable scences in this movie that I feel compelled to mention some.

- During the domestic disturbance scene, when the screaming woman tells the story concerning her husband and their daughter...Harry tells her to shoot him and leaves the house...the split second where he lets his breath out. Amazing.

- The split second of decision, right before shooting the loan shark in the end (can't remember the names).

- Breaking up with Murphy's character over the table cause she is bad luck.

- Harry incontrolable laughter about the ridiculous irony of the situation when finding his dead partner's wife in bed with his boss (and also the burning of the money and her reaction).

- Lapaglia accepting alternative payment to to give the guy a few extra days. Intense!


Anyway...I will quit my rant. Films of this "type" rarely find their way into my list of best films...but this one truely is something else. Then again...I am a sucker for film noir.