ThiefHott Too much of everything

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

jkeith77-1 I really enjoyed Hoffman, Jenkins, Turturro, etc. at an individual level. I enjoyed the set detail, lighting, and mood created and really felt as if I were having a drink in a Devil's Pocket dive bar in the 80's.The movie as a whole and plot however, were completely forgettable. I was actually quite pleased to see "Old Lucy" knock that horrible, racist, knife wielding kid over the head with a pipe. It actually felt like justice as it could be argued the murder was in self- defense and involuntary at its worst.Regardless, from that point on, I could not connect with the plot of Jeanie Scarpato seeking justice. I could not connect with the overly contrived "feeling" that Jeanie had about her dirt bag son getting killed as if getting accidentally killed in an industrial yard is completely unbelievable?! Not too mention that the rest of the film felt disjointed, without purpose and lacking in realism.At the end of the movie, I felt A) glad it was over and B) disappointment that we won't see Hoffman's incredible talent for acting again.

dansview What is it with this love affair people have with movies about east coast urban ethnics? I'm so sick of it. At least Deniro branched out a bit.Here's another story about inner city white Catholics drinking, fighting, and screwing. OK, we get it already.Hoffman is so fat. It's really remarkable that he looks the same in every film. He's short, has no muscle, and has that enormous beer belly. You would think he would have the discipline to alter his look for different roles. I don't buy him as Italian or whatever the heck he was supposed to be. But he is talented in his understated way.John Turturro as a greasy inner city thug? There's a stretch.If both the murdered kid's parents are reasonably calm people, how did he wind up being almost like a feral alley cat? That seemed unrealistic.I do get it that the dilemmas that Hoffman goes through are just vehicles to highlight the different characters in the neighborhood and the overall vicious cycle of it all.But in these movies, you rarely see anyone engaged in anything other than a stereotype. Where was the parish priest? Does anyone work a normal job? Does anyone play an instrument or coach little league? Generally speaking, working class Catholics do get into a lot of mischief world wide. I'm not disputing that. But even in a neighborhood like the one here, there are plenty of exceptions. Although we don't see them.The most interesting aspect was the question of whether the columnist truly respects a certain dignity in the people, or is simply an educated elitist lampooning them for educated readers. Even he isn't sure. Furthermore, he is as sleazy as them. He drinks, he's a horn dog, and he's lazy. In some sense, he sees himself ironically in the people he is writing about.I think he was trying to explain that irony to the lady when he says that he's 60 and the city loves him.As others have said, there was no indication of it taking place in modern times, but also no obvious references to retro culture. I suppose the fact that people read a print paper for their information says it all.If you don't mind gratuitous violence, ugly sex, and loads of profanity, give it a try for its characterizations and atmosphere. I wish I hadn't.

Joe Day I just saw this son Netflix and said to myself, whoa, this looks familiar and it was! I forgot I had reviewed it a year ago. In that time, it has not gotten any better. It reminds me of all of those British (Irish, Scottish) films out today, full of despicable people living despicable lives generation after generation, drinking, drugged-out, totally godless people and we are supposed to care about them.I am equally confounded how so many films today feature adultery, infidelity, etc. and yet, never do any of the couples behave as if they took any vows at all - never any searching above for answers never ever considering what marriage really means, never ever calling on any "faith" to see them through.ORIGINAL REVIEW I know it is cliché, but this is a couple of hours I will never get back. What is this flick supposed to be about anyway? The mob? A cover-up? Racism? Your guess is as good as mine.I could not say the performances were great because the storyline is lacking. Why, for example, was everyone so intimidated by Hoffman's character? Is he "connected" or what? It sure did not seem like it. What was with all the "goons" sent out to break a few legs? For what? The undertaker? One minute is is shaking in his boots, the next he has his own boys exact a little justice.The stepson? Seriously? The guy was nuttier than a fruitcake and we are supposed to believe his vestal mother (or anybody else) thought him a good boy? And again, why was everyone so afraid of Hoffman? Why were so many characters (eg Turturo) who were supposed to be tough be so apparently not? Not even in an all-mob-guys-act-tough-but-really-are-just cowards-at-heart way.The mother character (as played by that woman from Mad Men,) was embarrassing and reminded me of a performance Jayne Mansfield might have given had she been trying to prove she could "act." And the reporter guy from Six Feet Under (whose work I generally like) was a cartoon too. And why take us back to explain how the whole thing started? What "whole thing"?The huge funeral - for this little creep? Were the mourners "obligated to go" in an allegiance-to-the-mob kind of way? The horse betting? The small potatoes chits? These "big shots" who sweat over a $6,000 funeral? The "I know he didn't die like they said" stuff? I mean, come on: you'd think she'd be surprised that his body ended up in one piece!I don't know. Maybe I should have read the book, or will (might). Otherwise, calling this a dark comedy seems a bit desperate and only come up with after the creative team saw what it had. The ending seems slapped on and proves that for me. Nonsensical. I hate when I can anticipate the movie ending and not knowing what the hell I just saw. When you sit there going, huh, you mean that's it?

mipablito Devil's PocketDevils Pocket (God's Pocket), is a snapshot of reality...whether we like it, or not. Love is not all around, as the MTM theme happily proclaimed, back in the 1970s. We gratify ourselves with drugs... we die tragically, and young... but before that, we strut and shout our moment upon the stage, trying to make good, against the fear, hatred, poverty, crime, misery and madness, that is OUR neighborhood. Perhaps every neighborhood.It's so easy to criticize (this movie). But never do we point a finger, at ourselves.