Blood Ties

IF YOU EXPECT THIS TO BE A CLASSIC Hollywood GANGSTER MOVIE, YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED! It's not, it's way more than that, it's almost entirely based on the characters development. As the movie unfolds, we learn more and more about the lives of the two brothers, and the circumstances in which they keep finding each other, which makes it very hard for them to connect on a brotherly level. The actors play their roles to perfection, very believable, specially Clive Owen and Marion Cotillard. The cast is exceptional and bring out the essence of the period. I really enjoyed this movie from beginning to end, and I'm glad it wasn't action based. I didn't find the 2 hours long like some of the viewers, although I understand it's not for everybody who usually expect more dynamical plot from a 70's movie.

"Blood Ties" is a remake of the 2008 film "Rivals" which starred this movie's director, Guillaume Canet. James Caan, one of the stars of this film, helped him infuse the translation with some New York lingo.

The movie is set in the '70s, with Chris (Clive Owen) just being released from prison after 12 years. His brother Frank (Billy Crudup) is a police officer who lets him stay at his place and helps Chris get a job. In one of the first scenes, the boys' father (James Caan) is released from the hospital after having a lung removed. He is being cared for by their sister Marie (Lili Taylor).

Chris doesn't keep his job, but he does get a girlfriend out of it (Mila Kunis). He has no money so he reverts to crime again. Apparently his years in prison have made him a ruthless killer. When Frank recognizes him at a brutal robbery of an armored truck, his own career is threatened.

Frank, meanwhile, is still in love with Vanessa (Zoe Saldana), whom he parted ways with, and she accuses him of stalking her. And Chris' ex-wife (Marion Cotillard) turns tricks; she wants money from him, supposedly for child support, but he knows it's for drugs.

This is the age-old story of two brothers, one (Frank) who grew up adoring Chris, who traveled to the wrong side of the tracks at an early age, and the decisions they must make as adults as they try to get their lives together.

The family dynamics are terrific and ring true, with Marie and her father desperately wanting the brothers to get along and the family to be back together; meanwhile, Frank and Chris fight verbally and physically. James Caan gives a wonderful performance as a frail, sick man who has trouble expressing his emotions. His scene with Frank is especially touching.

The acting overall is excellent from this fine cast. Clive Owen and Billy Crudup are two favorites of mine, and both play the different aspects of their characters beautifully. Crudup has the more difficult role, torn between his love for his brother and his work. As Chris, Owen is a pragmatic sociopath. He goes out and gets what he wants without any qualms of conscience, attempting to manipulate Frank with a little grin. All that brings them together is their love for their father and sister, but it's not enough and it's too late.

This movie made next to no money and played only 28 theaters. It's not the most earth-shattering film you'll ever see, and parts are on the slow side, but it definitely deserved being seen by a wider audience and have better marketing. It's a shame that the fine work these people did was seen by so few. Perhaps as a rental it will do better.

(66%) A very convincing in terms of period detail crime drama featuring a solid cast and a decent character based story that satisfies through its toe- tapping soundtrack. Clive Owen has a truly fine on-screen presence and he's really great in this, and because he and everyone else are also good, along with the few nice bits of gripping and intense action, meaning that the undebatable flaws in the script, and a couple of minor issues here and there don't really matter that much. This will likely get seen by about half as many people than it deserves, but despite that, and for Mr Clive Owen especially, this is worth a very nostalgic trip to the cinema.

Not the quality of or as engrossing as the French Connection or the Seven Ups, but still pretty good 70's crime action made in 2013. Clive (no black raincoat or rumpled suit this time), with a really bad haircut, Elvis side burns and requisite three quarter length leather jacket (a.k.a. Goodfellas hoods) plays a nasty and unexpectedly violent ex-con whose English accent appears at times while he returns to a life of crime with a local mobster after his work release from a long prison sentence. His brother, a cop, tries to help while having his own serious personal problems.

Very gritty NYC scenes and actors add to the movie's character. As a side note, great set decoration and ugly wardrobe if you like the 1970's. Appropriate that Mila Kunis from that 70's Show stars in this too as his improbable lover and wife. Clive is old enough to be her father. Also, if you like 1960's and 1970's cars including muscle cars, this is a great film just for that. Chevelle 454 SS, Charger, Thunderbirds, Galaxies, Cougars, second generation Barracuda, Coronets a plenty, etc are all around and in perfect condition (right out of someone's collection).

It's 1974 New York. Police detective Frank Pierzynski (Billy Crudup) leads a raid against Anthony Scarfo (Matthias Schoenaerts). They are disappointed by the relatively limited evidence found and Frank reconnects with his ex Vanessa (Zoe Saldana) who is now married to Scarfo. Scarfo awaits his release as his fury grows about Vanessa abandoning him for Frank. Meanwhile, Frank's older criminal brother Chris Pierzynski (Clive Owen) is released after serving twelve years for a revenge killing. His ex-wife Monica (Marion Cotillard) is now a drug-addicted prostitute. He has new girlfriend Natalie (Mila Kunis) and falls back into his criminal ways. He's living with his brother, father Leon (James Caan), and sister Marie (Lili Taylor)

This keeps threatening to be a good period crime thriller. It has the gritty feel and the music. It has a good cast. It has French action director Guillaume Canet. It should be compelling. It never really picks up steam except for one thrilling robbery sequence. While Crudup is solid in this era, Clive Owen is trying very hard to be hard. It's questionable if Owen could ever be that hard. Even in a bar fight where he hits a guy with a bottle, it still ends with a wimpy hold-me-back. I don't believe that he's been in a tough prison for twelve years. There are also a few too many females in the movie. I'm not being sexist. I mean there is at least one unnecessary female connection, not to mention that Lili Taylor has nothing to do other than to yell at the boys. The story narrative is a bit muddled but it figures it out by the time of the shootout. It just doesn't continue it with a compelling brother vs brother narrative. Instead, it gerry-rigs the story to engineer a shocking poetic ending. This movie keeps missing the target whenever it threatens to get good. The parts are all there if not the whole.