The Narrows

Watched this only because I saw that Titus Welliver was in it, but his part was very small. Yet another terrible mafia film knockoff. A lot of wasted talent here.

I'm not even sure why I rented this but it was in my queue . . . Probably for a few years. Anyhow, it was about "Little League" Sopranos . . . Junior mobsters who like being Italian in Brooklyn and throwing their weight around.

The acting and cinematography were quite good but the story kind of wandered around . . . An intimate look at the mundane life of run-of-the mill thugs.

I don't think I'll even have a slice of tomato pie . . . At least for a day or so.

This didn't sound too appealing to me and there are no big names in the cast, but I have to say it is a gripping and enjoyable story. The acting is superb and the relationships between the characters well thought out.

It's not emotionally draining so to that extent perhaps it lacks a bit of depth, but even so you get to sympathize with the plight of people who don't really fit into the rapidly changing world. The brutality comes with morality albeit not in a conventional form, and there is a sense that everything will turn out OK if you live by that code.

A regular college kid whose job is not waiting tables or flipping burgers, but following in the family tradition of gangland crime, is a fascinating take on a familiar theme, and it works really well.

Not too demanding but very enjoyable with some fantastic performances.

Most gangster, mob, mafia films portray the dominance of that life, squashing and absorbing the protagonist. The Narrows flips that script with subtlety without reducing the tension. The story, script, direction and cast were all spot on. Typically, directors like Scorsese and De Palma bash you in the face with the reality of that life. I love every second of their films. Having seen their films allows this film to shine. WATCH THIS MOVIE!!

The Narrows is a film that never truly takes off. From start to finish, it feels like you're watching several different movies stitched together, each competing for attention but never blending into something cohesive. Instead of pulling me in, it left me completely lost-and, more importantly, completely bored.

The setup tries to be sophisticated and clever, bouncing between the "neighborhood life" the main character grew up in and the new world he's exposed to while off at college. On paper, that duality should create tension and depth. In execution, it just feels jumbled and disjointed, never finding its footing or establishing a rhythm.

The screenplay is the film's biggest downfall. The writing drags, stumbles, and circles back on itself to the point where I found myself dozing off-literally. I had to rewind multiple times, hoping it would finally click, but it never did. Instead, it settled into a nonchalant tone that kept the story flat and lifeless.

At the end of the day, The Narrows isn't gripping, it isn't sharp, and it certainly isn't entertaining. It's a slow, unfocused drama that thinks it's more profound than it actually is, and the result is a forgettable, dragging experience that I wouldn't recommend.