This gritty little film is a winning throwback to bare-knuckled crime dramas of the seventies. It boasts a solid screenplay, sure-handed direction by veteran Fred Carpenter, and a star-making title performance by Sopranos alum Robert Funaro. Kudos to the casting director too: each and every Russian mobster is more menacing than an ISIS member. If every neighborhood had a gang like this, there wouldn't be a single sex offender in your area. I also enjoyed the performances by Armand Assante and Paul Vario. Their many scenes with Funaro featured strong, real-world dialog. New York locations lent the film a nice authenticity.
Review of Charlie Mantle
