Just a yard short... (The Yards (DVD))

Member Name: Andyc

Product:	The Yards (DVD)
Date:	16/11/00 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All-star cast, excellent acting

Disadvantages: Lack of storyline, bizarre/unusual setting!

Having seen the moody poster campaign for 'The Yards' I was tempted to go and see it, purely because the posters were good and the cast seemed excellent.

Starring James Caan, Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Whalberg (amongst others) this movie can truly boast an 'all-star cast'.

This was the first time in many years of movie-going that I'd been to see a film I'd heard nothing about. I hadn't read any reviews, seen and clips.... not even as much as a mumbled recommendation from a friend.... so I was eager to see what it was like.

Set in the unlikely surroundings of the American metro-system, 'The Yards' refers to the train yards, where all released convict Wahlberg's friends work. Looking to go 'straight' to help his sick mother, Wahlberg goes to seen the boss (Caan) to apply for a job. He soon realises that there's more to meets the eye about his friends 'jobs'.

And that's it really! The cinematography is excellent, it really takes something to make me care enough about the characters in a film, but I did. The acting is exceptional (as you'd expect) and the story has enough to keep you interested. However, it does lack that certain something. There isn't enough in the story. Near the end I found I was asking myself "What's really happened?" and the answer is "Not much."

Otherwise though, the film is very entertaining, very moody and the ladies will love it, with Wahlberg wandering round with his shirt off half the time and Phoenix looking suffiently sultry!

If you've got a spare few quid, go see.

Summary: