Review of Live by Night (2016) by Mydistuniverse — 21 Jan 2017

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Live by Night is a old style gangster movie, that plays out in the height of the prohibition era on the east coast and the south of the Untied States. It features Ben Affleck, Sienna Miller and Zoe Saldana amongst a whole host of other stars.

When Joe Coughlin comes back from serving in the First World War he is done taking orders. He’s seen too many good people die senseless deaths following other people's directions.

After he returns to Boston he decides to become an outlaw. For the next ten years he sleeps by day and lives by night, robbing anyone worth stealing from. But, robbing banks and gaming parlours had to bring him to the attention of the wrong people at some stage.

His life style eventually catches up with him when he finds himself caught between the Italian mob, lead by Maso Pescatore, and the Irish mob, lead by Albert White. Joe’s lover is the girlfriend of Albert White, a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed by the Italians. Maso Pescatore tries to blackmail him with that fact into killing White.

Coughlin refuses as he still resents taking orders from anyone and also does not want to be associated with the mob. Pescatore rats him out to White, landing Joe first in hospital and then in prison. His lover is killed in the mayhem following the events that lead up to Joes incarceration.

A new Start.

When he gets out he decides to join the Italian mob after all, hoping to be able to avenge Emma’s death. Maso sends him down to Tampa, Florida to wrestle the city from Albert’s hands, who has taken over the rum distribution in Florida. That first task accomplished Joe sets out to build en empire, taking full advantage of the illegal booze trade during the height of the prohibition.

While in Tampa he forms an alliance with Cuban siblings, one of them is Gabriella Corrales, whom he eventually marries. Being in a relationship with a black woman however, brings a whole new set of trouble in form of the Klu Klux Klan to his doorstep. After some initial set backs, Joe disposes of local splinter group the Italian way.

In the end there is a big show down between Joe, Albert White and Maso Pescatore.

I really like Live At Night. It is an good old fashioned gangster movie, something you don't see often anymore. The script is great, although it did feel a little long winded at times. At some points I could not believe that there was yet another twist in the story. But in the end it all made sense.

Ben Affleck was a busy man with Live By Night. He wrote the screenplay, directed the movie and starred in it. Leonardo DiCaprio and Affleck are listed as producers. It’s not the best movie ever made, but it is definitely worth watching.