I don’t understand why this film is enjoying such strong buzz.

I described it this morning as almost a “mob souffle”...one part Godfather, one part Scarface (De Palma edition), seasoned with the talents of Mr. Washington and Mr. Crowe. Now that I think about it, a little Serpico was tossed in, as well.

What distinguished the film, I thought, was its emphasis on race relations within the organized crime community and its production design…it definitely looked and sounded like a 70s flick. Not surprising, given that the film’s production designer skillfully designed Gladiator.