Coming from the people involved in the production of this film, the end result feels like a disappointment. "Brooklyn Rules" is a mishmash of better made movies of the genre. Directed by Michael Corrente with a screen play by Terence Winter, the film wants to capitalize on events of the past mixed with fictional characters that are one dimensional, at best.
We don't believe for a moment in Michael, the central figure of the trio of friends that are portrayed in the story. Michael is a cheater who tries to push his way around with his political science professor when he pretends to have turned an exam and hasn't received a grade. At the same time, he is horrified by Carmine, the rotten apple in the story who will probably get involved with the same criminal element he cozies up to. The last one of the friends, the simple minded Bobby, seems to live in a different world wishing to be a postal worker with a meager income.
Perhaps the creators of "Brooklyn Rules" started out to make a different movie, but unfortunately what comes up on the screen is a bland excuse filled with clichés. Perhaps the casting of Freddy Prince Jr. throws the movie out of balance. An otherwise fair actor of lighter fare, Mr. Prince Jr. doesn't add anything to the character of Michael. Scott Caan, shows a bit of an edge in his Carmine. Alex Baldwin has some good moments in a part that goes from being a suave gangster to the evil mind that can inflict a lot of pain to his enemies.
We don't believe for a moment in Michael, the central figure of the trio of friends that are portrayed in the story. Michael is a cheater who tries to push his way around with his political science professor when he pretends to have turned an exam and hasn't received a grade. At the same time, he is horrified by Carmine, the rotten apple in the story who will probably get involved with the same criminal element he cozies up to. The last one of the friends, the simple minded Bobby, seems to live in a different world wishing to be a postal worker with a meager income.
Perhaps the creators of "Brooklyn Rules" started out to make a different movie, but unfortunately what comes up on the screen is a bland excuse filled with clichés. Perhaps the casting of Freddy Prince Jr. throws the movie out of balance. An otherwise fair actor of lighter fare, Mr. Prince Jr. doesn't add anything to the character of Michael. Scott Caan, shows a bit of an edge in his Carmine. Alex Baldwin has some good moments in a part that goes from being a suave gangster to the evil mind that can inflict a lot of pain to his enemies.