A gritty 1970s crime movie that argues there's no honour among thieves, cops, or maybe just people in general, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is bleak but entertaining. It strikes an interesting balance between feeling grounded/real and fun/stylish. It's about a guy called Eddie Coyle. Despite the title, he doesn't really have any friends, and is continually trying to rat out his criminal associates in order to reduce his sentence. For those in the police force, however, nothing ever seems to be enough, causing Coyle to go further and further out of his depths.
There are some slower moments in the film which keep me from really loving it. But there are also so many great scenes, and I think it's exceptionally well-written and acted throughout. Pacing-wise, it's not perfect, and as far as the visuals are concerned, I don't think it's exceptional. However, the story and characters shine, and everyone's cast well. I did also find the ending a little strange, but it works.
It seems pretty underrated, as far as 1970s crime movies go. Certainly not the most obscure in the world or anything, but probably deserves to have a slightly higher profile than what it does.
There are some slower moments in the film which keep me from really loving it. But there are also so many great scenes, and I think it's exceptionally well-written and acted throughout. Pacing-wise, it's not perfect, and as far as the visuals are concerned, I don't think it's exceptional. However, the story and characters shine, and everyone's cast well. I did also find the ending a little strange, but it works.
It seems pretty underrated, as far as 1970s crime movies go. Certainly not the most obscure in the world or anything, but probably deserves to have a slightly higher profile than what it does.