Stereotypical mobster movie from a different angle - draws in stereotypical mobster film actors. Yeah, based on real story, but same old stuff.

Reasonably good acting and dialogue help tell this unusual, "based-on-true-events" story. Ultimately, however, this courtroom drama suffers, because although apparently none of the characters in the film has any idea what the jury will decide, the audience has had two hours of clues lopsided in one direction, not from courtroom evidence as much as from the dramatic structure.

This was a good movie, I really liked the story and the acting in this.

I don't get the complaints about this film. What seems to get lost among viewers is these are not nice guys. You are not suppose to root for them. That being said the film is framed by Peter Dinkage's character and the DA. One talks about be a nation of laws and the other screams when he hears that one of the jury thinks Jackie is cute and reminds us all that they (Jackie and his buddies) kill people. There is no moral judgement made by this movie. You have to figure it out for yourselves. I will take a film like this every time. Disel and Dinkage are both excellent.… Expand

One of the best movies since Good fellows. How did you get from the Brunos to the Lascees. I took a cab!!! I almost fell over laughing. I love the part on how Judge Fienstien and Jackie build a Bond, I love the part on how the judge handles Jackies Mothers death, I hope all judges would show respect and compassion as judge Fienstein showed Jackie. I give the movie two thumbs up!!!

I honestly don't know who I was supposed to root for here. Obviously, I wasn't supposed to root for the D.A or the cops, who hardly come off well (or competent). Was I supposed to root for the real life mafia guys, who no doubt belonged in prison? If any of these guys were fleshed out and made interesting, then that might of worked, but only their leader (other then Diesel) was the least bit fleshed out, and he didn't come of well. Was I supposed to care whether or not Diesel is found guilty? The guy is already serving a 30 year-prison sentence. What possible effect could a conviction have on his life or future? Maybe, it would have worked if Diesel's antics were really as funny as film tries to convince us they are. We certainly had enough scenes of the people in the court rolling on the floor with laughter, I however didn't come close to laughing. Basically, this comes off as movie trying very hard to convince us that Diesel's character is alot more interesting then he is, at least in the moviie. Considering that the real life character he was playing was in the mafia, and spent a good part of his adult life in prison, the real life person might well have been a darker, and more interesting character then Diesel, who wants nothing more then to hang with his mafia buddies, who we are told again and again that he loves. Are we really supposed to share Diesel's view that the mafia guys are noble, working class heroes, and that their acquittal, if it comes, would be a victory for the little guy? The way film handle's its ending it certainly seems like we're supposed to see it like this. The filmmakers had a taken on this subject matter, that for lack of a better word, is just weird. However, Dinkage, as the defense lawyer is good. He is easily the best part of movie, and if his character had been the film's focus, then you might have had a better film.… Expand