Film Reviews by MS

With Scorsese's firm grip of both the foreground and background characters, the milieu, and a magnificent soundtrack to match the passing time, this works similarly to Mean Streets; luring you in to a world of mock power, high-times and self-regard. And like that movie the mob social scene is shown in rich in detail but with a greater emphasis on the hollowness of the bonhomie; in this world death, as we are told repeatedly, comes quickly and with a smiling face. Henry Hill foreshadows his own demise early on when he compares his own status with that of the guys who end up in jail and you sense, in that moment, that there will be only one winner when his invincibility meets the corroding effect of power and greed. Shot through with moments of visceral violence, we are left in no doubt how grubby the lowlifes of mob culture truly are. Its a blue collar, below stairs, mafia epic.

A cleverly written and edited movie featuring a suitably paired back dramatic turn by Jim Carrey. The satire of modern tv culture is mined to good comic effect but the prescience of the idea remains powerful in today's all-access, all the time, social media world. Wonderfully supported by a strong cast, this doesn't skimp on its disturbing implications but is delivered with great humour, pathos and in the spirit of hopeful protest.