Last Exit to Brooklyn

Dir: Uli Edel
Star: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephen Lang, Burt Young, Ricki Lake

[5] Set in 40's Brooklyn, this is grim soap-opera, with a cast of hookers, gays, thugs, drug addicts and union officials. Edel's original cut was considered "too violent" by the production company (who gave us Rambo, so they're not bleeding-hearts) and even in the trimmed down version, life seems brutal, with survival of the fittest being the rule - there are some vicious moments, besides which even Leigh 'taking on' the entire clientele of a bar, pale. Well-acted and compelling, though not an enjoyable picture.

8/10

---