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Title: Pretentious and indulgent!
Review: This well-shot first feature from James Gray features good performances from some fine actors, but is sunk by its hopelessly muddled, pretentious screenplay. Gray seems more interested in imitating people like Coppola, Scorsese, Bergman and Visconti (to name a few) than he does in telling an honest story from his heart. The result is a cold, almost clinical study of a Russian Jewish family and their two troubled sons, one of whom is a hit man for the mob. The result is also uninvolving emotionally. Instead of trying to show us how clever and brilliant you are, James, why not just tell an honest story from your heart? The talent is obviously there. A real disappointment, considering the talent of all involved.
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