Film Review: Live by Night
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cert: 15 cert by due to some scene i think this should of been an 18 cert
Cert: 15 cert by due to some scene i think this should of been an 18 cert
Director: Ben Affleck
Screen writer: (screenplay) Ben Affleck , based on the novel by Dennis Lehane
Starring: Ben Affleck , Elle Fanning , Remo Girone , Brendan Gleeson , Robert Glenister , Matthew Maher , Chris Messina , Sienna Miller , Miguel , Zoe Saldana , Chris Cooper , Titus Welliver , Max Casella , Christian Clemenson , J.D. Evermore
Running time: 2h 9min
Parents advised to read before viewing film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.
Sex & Nudity: Sexual activity is portrayed, but justified by context, infrequent, and without strong details.
The film contains two sexual scenes.
In the first scene, a woman is seen straddling a man, and as the camera tracks backwards, she is seen thrusting her body, moving up and down.
In the second scene, a couple engages in passionate kissing before removing their clothes, and falling into bed, with the woman moving side-ways to depict thrusting.
In both scenes, there are no details of nudity as the characters are either partially-clothed or under covers.
The film also contains brief depictions of a bare-breasted woman seen in black-and-white photographs.
Violence & Gore: The film is peppered throughout with scenes of violence when gang members come into conflict with each other.
Most of these scenes depict the violent crimes committed by the gang members, which involve assassinations, bombings and arson.
Some of the stronger scenes depict vicious killings where victims are shot multiple times, often at pointblank range through the head, resulting in bloodshed.
Profanity: There are some use of expletives in the film, such as "f**k", as well as the stronger expletive ".motherf**ker"
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Alcohol is seen being drunk by the main characters.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: 'Live By Night' is a crime-drama set in the 1920s during America's Prohibition era, when a nation-wide ban on alcohol sale is enforced. The story centers on Joseph Coughlin, the son of a prominent police chief, who gets involved in armed robberies and later joins a criminal organisation as a gangster.
Official MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity
Story: Boston, 1926. The '20s are roaring. Liquor is flowing, bullets are flying, and one man sets out to make his mark on the world. Prohibition has given rise to an endless network of underground distilleries, speakeasies, gangsters, and corrupt cops. Joe Coughlin, the youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, has long since turned his back on his strict and proper upbringing. Now having graduated from a childhood of petty theft to a career in the pay of the city's most fearsome mobsters, Joe enjoys the spoils, thrills, and notoriety of being an outlaw. But life on the dark side carries a heavy price. In a time when ruthless men of ambition, armed with cash, illegal booze, and guns, battle for control, no one-neither family nor friend, enemy nor lover-can be trusted. Beyond money and power, even the threat of prison, one fate seems most likely for men like Joe: an early death. But until that day, he and his friends are determined to live life to the hilt.
Likes : Welcome to the 1920's Prohibition era where the street of america are ruled by Gangster mob boss's & crime lords where the currency is Rum running , gambling & murder.
Live by night was original meant to be a project to star Leonardo DiCaprio as the main role of Joe Coughlin through his film company Appian Way Productions , this was until October 2012 when it was announced that Ben Affleck would be directing , writing & star in this film's main role.
I've gotta say Ben certainly know how to write a compelling screen play special from his other film like gone girl & Argo , but the one thing with this film is that it's hard to make a gangster film that we havent already seen before.
Clear this film does have things we've see before in countless of other gangster film's , but Ben manages to actually pull this film off and does pretty good job with the storytelling despite what we have seen before. Although the film isn't without it flaws , it will depend on whether you can forgive these as this film isn't that bad.
The film main story is based in 1926's in Boston and Tampa revolving around Ben Afflecks character who is a son of a police captain in this era of american history , Ben character Joe Coughlin is a bootlegger that get's caught up in the middle of mobster feud which he wants no part of yet get drag in anyway.
He's performance playing this role is brilliantly done in giving a believe character and with his Irish background it helps with the Boston ascent which give's this character a real feel of someone from 1920's Boston.
The suits, cars, and the glamour of the 20's and 30's is captured pretty well in this film give a believable background concept to the movie , with some brilliant stunt work with the car chase's & gun fights as well give the feel for a real gangster movie.
Sienna Miller role in this film playing Emma Gould which she did a perfect performance for , i just can't help but feel her role in this film was a little odd and a little rushed as she seem to be a main character but end up being something different along the way.
I wouldn't really go into this film expecting a fresh new type of gangster film as like ive said there isn't really anything we haven't seen before , although it does do well in telling the story so Affleck has done pretty well here.
Special the gun fight scene which you're find in most gangster film's which most parts of this film are very brutal and vicious at times , this film can be a little racists at time with certain dialog so beware of this as some parts maybe offensive for some viewers.
If you like gangster movies this is one to watch , but this probably won't be something that'll top your year of film's or end of the year best film's , but its thoroughly enjoyable even through its flaws. I wouldn't say it's Affleck's best film but its enjoyable film to see , but I applaud him for directing and writing this film in a time where he's busy being in the latest blockbusters.
Dislikes : The pacing of the film does kind of kill the emotional scene in the film which is forgivable but it could've flowed a bit faster.
Some character felt a little rushed in placed, other than that this film was ok to watch.
Overall : Might not be your best film of the year but enjoyable to watch.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 for entertainment / 7.9 out of 10 for concept.
Screen writer: (screenplay) Ben Affleck , based on the novel by Dennis Lehane
Starring: Ben Affleck , Elle Fanning , Remo Girone , Brendan Gleeson , Robert Glenister , Matthew Maher , Chris Messina , Sienna Miller , Miguel , Zoe Saldana , Chris Cooper , Titus Welliver , Max Casella , Christian Clemenson , J.D. Evermore
Running time: 2h 9min
Parents advised to read before viewing film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.
Sex & Nudity: Sexual activity is portrayed, but justified by context, infrequent, and without strong details.
The film contains two sexual scenes.
In the first scene, a woman is seen straddling a man, and as the camera tracks backwards, she is seen thrusting her body, moving up and down.
In the second scene, a couple engages in passionate kissing before removing their clothes, and falling into bed, with the woman moving side-ways to depict thrusting.
In both scenes, there are no details of nudity as the characters are either partially-clothed or under covers.
The film also contains brief depictions of a bare-breasted woman seen in black-and-white photographs.
Violence & Gore: The film is peppered throughout with scenes of violence when gang members come into conflict with each other.
Most of these scenes depict the violent crimes committed by the gang members, which involve assassinations, bombings and arson.
Some of the stronger scenes depict vicious killings where victims are shot multiple times, often at pointblank range through the head, resulting in bloodshed.
Profanity: There are some use of expletives in the film, such as "f**k", as well as the stronger expletive ".motherf**ker"
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Alcohol is seen being drunk by the main characters.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: 'Live By Night' is a crime-drama set in the 1920s during America's Prohibition era, when a nation-wide ban on alcohol sale is enforced. The story centers on Joseph Coughlin, the son of a prominent police chief, who gets involved in armed robberies and later joins a criminal organisation as a gangster.
Official MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity
Story: Boston, 1926. The '20s are roaring. Liquor is flowing, bullets are flying, and one man sets out to make his mark on the world. Prohibition has given rise to an endless network of underground distilleries, speakeasies, gangsters, and corrupt cops. Joe Coughlin, the youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, has long since turned his back on his strict and proper upbringing. Now having graduated from a childhood of petty theft to a career in the pay of the city's most fearsome mobsters, Joe enjoys the spoils, thrills, and notoriety of being an outlaw. But life on the dark side carries a heavy price. In a time when ruthless men of ambition, armed with cash, illegal booze, and guns, battle for control, no one-neither family nor friend, enemy nor lover-can be trusted. Beyond money and power, even the threat of prison, one fate seems most likely for men like Joe: an early death. But until that day, he and his friends are determined to live life to the hilt.
Likes : Welcome to the 1920's Prohibition era where the street of america are ruled by Gangster mob boss's & crime lords where the currency is Rum running , gambling & murder.
Live by night was original meant to be a project to star Leonardo DiCaprio as the main role of Joe Coughlin through his film company Appian Way Productions , this was until October 2012 when it was announced that Ben Affleck would be directing , writing & star in this film's main role.
I've gotta say Ben certainly know how to write a compelling screen play special from his other film like gone girl & Argo , but the one thing with this film is that it's hard to make a gangster film that we havent already seen before.
Clear this film does have things we've see before in countless of other gangster film's , but Ben manages to actually pull this film off and does pretty good job with the storytelling despite what we have seen before. Although the film isn't without it flaws , it will depend on whether you can forgive these as this film isn't that bad.
The film main story is based in 1926's in Boston and Tampa revolving around Ben Afflecks character who is a son of a police captain in this era of american history , Ben character Joe Coughlin is a bootlegger that get's caught up in the middle of mobster feud which he wants no part of yet get drag in anyway.
He's performance playing this role is brilliantly done in giving a believe character and with his Irish background it helps with the Boston ascent which give's this character a real feel of someone from 1920's Boston.
The suits, cars, and the glamour of the 20's and 30's is captured pretty well in this film give a believable background concept to the movie , with some brilliant stunt work with the car chase's & gun fights as well give the feel for a real gangster movie.
Sienna Miller role in this film playing Emma Gould which she did a perfect performance for , i just can't help but feel her role in this film was a little odd and a little rushed as she seem to be a main character but end up being something different along the way.
I wouldn't really go into this film expecting a fresh new type of gangster film as like ive said there isn't really anything we haven't seen before , although it does do well in telling the story so Affleck has done pretty well here.
Special the gun fight scene which you're find in most gangster film's which most parts of this film are very brutal and vicious at times , this film can be a little racists at time with certain dialog so beware of this as some parts maybe offensive for some viewers.
If you like gangster movies this is one to watch , but this probably won't be something that'll top your year of film's or end of the year best film's , but its thoroughly enjoyable even through its flaws. I wouldn't say it's Affleck's best film but its enjoyable film to see , but I applaud him for directing and writing this film in a time where he's busy being in the latest blockbusters.
Dislikes : The pacing of the film does kind of kill the emotional scene in the film which is forgivable but it could've flowed a bit faster.
Some character felt a little rushed in placed, other than that this film was ok to watch.
Overall : Might not be your best film of the year but enjoyable to watch.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 for entertainment / 7.9 out of 10 for concept.
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