What Doesn't Kill You (R16)
Lifelong friends and lowlifes Paulie (Ethan Hawke) and Brian (Mark Ruffalo) have grown up on the poor, mean streets of South Boston.
But their petty crimes of youth to make money have escalated into more serious offences through osmosis into organised crime.
When the law, drugs and prison catch up with them, there's a chance to change their lives, especially for Brian, married with two young sons.
But the struggle to make ends meet and stay on the straight and narrow is arduous, particularly when Paulie sees an armoured car heist as the way out of of their dead-end lives.
Despite a bit of trickery in the story, which starts with the heist before flashing back, this gritty crime drama is increasingly engaging. It's based on debut director Brian Goodman's own early life (he plays a local gangster here) and has top performances from Ruffalo, Hawke and the supporting cast, including Amanda Peet as Brian's distressed yet loyal wife.
- Reviewed by David Manning. DVDs for review supplied by United Video, Nelson.
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