Four young friends. One horrible mistake. Thus begins our tale.
Just how much punishment does an innocent mistake warrant? Too much, as the four main characters in our story find out. Punished by the law and punished by the frustrated guards of their remand home, the boys are scarred for life. Some more than the others. Wounded, victimised to the point where even revenge can’t appease them, but can dull the pain for a while.
So we are drawn into an intricate plot choreographed to perfection. A clever lawyer, a drunk lawyer, two gangsters, a writer and a priest conspire together to deliver justice.
Beautifully woven together, this film captures a palette of emotions - carefree happiness, quiet desperation, determination and the friendship beyond all else.
Brad Pitt plays the brilliant legal mind. Jason Patric is the reserved writer. Billy Crudup and Roy Eldard portray gangsters hardened by life’s circumstances. Robert DeNiro is outstanding as the compassionate Father Bobby. Equally riveting is Dustin Hoffman as a washed up old lawyer. Kevin Bacon makes a short but memorable appearance.
To say too much about this movie would be a gross injustice. Watch it and see for yourself. It is a powerful story told by a powerful cast of characters.