Beyond their differences lies loyalty.

I happened to catch this movie last night on one of my off days after missing it in theatres and curiousity to see how the movie was. I had just finished watching American Gangster and this movie gave me the same kind of feel; a carless drug and alcahol induced club full of fun and dancing with smiles across the floor. After the manager's brother busts in with his drug task force, Bobby Green is dragged out and humiliated in front of his his paying guests; leaving him very pissed off and full of charcoal and ink. Leaving the precinct fresh out of a fight with his brother, then shortly after finding out his brother has been shot; Bobby puts aside all the petty bullshit and decides to join his father and set up the drug lord responsible for the attack and hospitialization of his brother. Denied his request; Bobby goes behind his fathers back and sets up Vadim Nezhinski and gets him, but also lands himself in the emergency room after being discovered as a sting and forced to jump out of a window. Alot of things have been taken from this point and alot of dues have had to been payed for Bobby Green; going from a happy night club manager to a man under protective custody who always has to look behind his back to make sure there's no one lurking to take in life in the shadows. Very bold and selfless in mind for him to have done this, considering the values many people have on lives these days. The quote written below was one of the best lines said in the movie and a turning point from the main character, completley changing the way he sees things. To be honest, I have never liked Joaquin Phoenix in a single role before this (tolerated him in Signs) but he really stuck out in this one; not using evil and preying on the protagonist but being one himself and maturing as a character before your eyes on the screen. Whether or not that was good acting or good dircetion is up in the air.. I overall liked the movie. I woulden't go out and buy this, but definetly a rental or catching it on a movie channel are both appropriate.

Joseph Grusinsky: Remember. It's better to be judged by twelve people, than carried by six.

6/10