this be one different gangster picture and bring to you by abel ferarra . i first come to know the rather unique director from his infamous driller killer . which be really 90 minute of my life i would like to have back . it the one dvd i own that i would love to not own . the one dvd i do not even consider rewatching . and with good reason . it a jackass of a film . i can not go into it any more without swear and and then my review would not get put up . anyway and year after watch that . movie and i begin to wonder how ferarra be so know among film fan . nobody like the driller killer and so that can not be it . i look him up here and and saw that such noted actor a christopher walken and harvey keitel have work with him . i be quite surprised and then i come across this one rather cheap . and i love gangster film so maybe i be be a bit bias here . but this one be rather interesting . these aren not scorsese style gangster . theyre guy in black suit but their life be much less glamarous . there be much rape and violence and little laugh or friendship . the film focus on three brother . christopher walken be legendary in his role a wise but age family head ray . chris penn play his rather temperamental ( surprise surprise and it be chris penn ) brother and and vincent gallo play young foolish brother johnny . the film open with the recently decease johnny lie in his coffin and everyone gather around cry . how do he get to be there . the film tell this through flashback which occur every few minute throughout the film and and we also see a part from ray youth . very skilfully do . the time switch happens without u notice and the film flow so well that be not in the least bit distracted . christopher walken be christopher walken in a christopher walken role and ray . he take the michael corleone route here and the wise guy and the darker old brother who make all the decision for the family . and he great at it . chris penn be chris penn in another chris penn role . he completely insane . a brutal and angry man who lose it over nothing and spend his time on screen shout and swear at those around him . chris penn be really good at this and but i would like to see him take on an emotional character . he just do nice guy eddie over and over again . vincent gallo do the freddie corleone of the family well and but he a bit unbelievable a a gangster and the camera have too many close ups on him . also present in a supporting role be john ventimiglia and who play artie bucco from the soprano . just think i would mention him and brilliant man . there benicio del toro a the rival gangster bos . he pretty creepy but doesn not have a big enough part to do the character justice . overall and the act out of the two lead walken and penn be excellent . typical and but excellent . ferarra be know to be violent and disturb . maybe if i would watch this film a few year back it might have affect me and but it do not in the least . i be now immune to offense by violence . some of the film violent highlight and though and include a stabbing in the heart with a butcher knife and shoot two innocent truck driver with a shotgun and rap a teenage prostitute ( who sell her soul ) and an end pistol massacre . despite all this and however and it an excellent if depressing picture and with many deep and dark performance . the violence be not over the top compare to the like of de palma or scorsese and and it be not disturbing and or maybe that just me . i will definitely be see more ferarra movie .