Movie #37 The Friends of Eddie Coyle

After watching "The Town" a few weeks ago I kept reading about a movie that it apparently drew pretty heavily from.  The Friends of Eddie Coyle. So I saw it and man, I would say so.  The Town owes about 40% of it's scenes and shots and even it's location to Eddie Coyle.

The friends of Eddie Coyle stars one of my new favorite actors Robert Mitchum as well as Peter Boyle, Steven Keats, Richard Jordan and Alex Rocco.  Dynamite cast!  The story is about a nice guy thief "Eddie Coyle" played with a cool understated sense of urgency by Robert Mitchum.  Colye is looking at doing a few years in the joint for some minor truck heist he was a part of.  In order to avoid doing that time he is ratting out every two bit thug and thief he knows.  In addition to that he is working with a crew that is holding up banks all across Boston.

This film is held together by Mitchum's performance, but the supporting cast is like the sprinkles on the cake.  Keats and Jordan were both excellent in their roles.  This films was made made in 1973 and it looks like it.  Of course you have the vehicles from that time period, the wah-wah guitar soundtrack and the wardrobe is dated to say the least.  At times it reminded me a little of Dirty Harry and The French Connection.  High praise in both cases.  The direction in the film is slick without drawing attention to its self.  A perfect example of that 70"s action character study.  There is a fantastic scene shot during a Boston Bruins hockey game.  Another scene stolen by Affleck except he uses Finway Park and the Sox instead of Bobby Orr and the Bruins.

I don't have a lot more to say about this film.  It is shot and directed very professionally, the writing is solid, the performances are wonderful.  If I was to nit pick something, it was a little disjointed.  I didn't always understand the bank robbery scenes and how they tied into the overall plot.  This movie also makes its protaginist a snitch.  That is a person that can be a little hard to pull for.  Especially when his motives are unclear of weak.  In Eddie Coyle's case I would say both apply, but Mitchum is so charismatic he can make me overlook those minor flaws.

I would give this film a 4/5 stars and make this a must see.  If for nothing else it is a great example of a heist movie that has been borrowed from for 30 plus years now.  Check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WtR-mi6VtU