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Created Aug 21, 2011 09:22AM PST • Edited Aug 21, 2011 09:22AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Payback is a b*tch, especially if you mess with boys from the Hell’s Kitchen hood. This movie follows an all star cast from childhood in a tough neighborhood through abuse at an upstate reform school to an engaging tale of revenge. Three different and uniquely engaging segments to a powerful story — this film will appeal to all types of fans: fans of mob films, fans of drama, fans of good con-capers, and fans of great actors. Add to it all that this is supposedly a true story (some controversy about that), and you will be engrossed.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Jason Patric, and others — this cast packs a punch! All were great, but my picks are De-Niro as the protective Catholic priest with his own story, and Kevin Bacon as the masochistic guard you love to hate. Some of these starts had small roles, but each added their own special brand of delivery on par with their best leading performances.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    With a winning story and a wining cast it is hard to mess up a movie like this, but great direction from Barry Levinson and you have a movie you won’t soon forget.

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    Scenes suggesting child abuse and tough mob-style payback.

17. Sex Titillating 2.5

18. Violence Fierce 2.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Glib 1.7

    Not so sure about the trial phase – but yeah, I think most of what you see could have happened.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.7

23. Biological Glib 1.7

24. Physical Glib 1.7