Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2013

Street-punk-turned-character-actor Brian Goodman makes an excellent debut behind the camera with this grim tale based on his own misspent youth as a low-level leg-breaker for a minor South Boston crime boss (which he also portrays). His determination not to glamorize his material is at once the film’s strength and its weakness. It fairly bleeds authenticity but, in the wake of such recent hits as The Departed and Gone Baby Gone, comes off a tad matter-of-fact. That said, the performances by Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke, along with Goodman’s sure direction make this well made flick well worth a sit.