The Yards **** (2000, Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, James Caan) – Classic Movie Review 1429

Mark Wahlberg stars as ex-con Leo Handler who is freed from jail and finds himself drawn into the business of renovating New York’s subway cars by his aunt Kitty Olchin (Faye Dunaway)’s new husband, Frank Olchin (James Caan). It’s a murky world of gangsters, corruption, violence and double-dealing.

Wahlberg’s closest buddy is Willie Gutierrez (Joaquin Phoenix), Caan’s right-hand operative, who recruits Wahlberg as look-out man. But soon he’s in mortal danger after a job goes predictably wrong.

Co-writer/director James Gray’s 2000 crime drama is very well-crafted, nerve-jangling, and scarily vicious. It has several extremely gutsy performances, memorable characters, a good, noirish atmosphere and some very compelling stretches of forceful dialogue writing. It’s co-written by Matt Reeves, the director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

It may not be quite original enough or absolutely top-drawer, but it’s still an exciting, excellent and memorable piece of work though.

Charlize Theron, Ellen Burtsyn, Chad Aaron, Andrew Davoli, Tomas Milian, Steve Lawrence and Tony Musante also star.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1429

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