Review of The Yards (2000) by Michael G — 25 Oct 2008

Great film. Now here's something most people haven't seen and thats truly a damn fucking shame because if you consider yourself a 1.) film buff and/or 2.) fan of mob-type dramas, put that other film in your hand down and check this one out instead.

To begin, other than Marky Mark and Ellen Burstyn, everyone in this film is a dick and you wish nothing but bad things upon them and thats what makes this film so great. Marky Mark and his mom are pretty much by themselves and poor.

..they're one step removed from hanging out at the freeway on-ramp with a "Spare Some Cash" sign. You really feel for them for how life has fucked them. Enter Jimmy Caan and the cast. At first, they're all about family helping family and friends helping friends, but you soon realize none of them give a shit about Marky Mark.

The film is made remarkably well. Although there are no standout performances (which is a surprise considering you've got Caan, Burstyn, and Faye Dunaway sharing screen space), the overall cast does a commendable job.

Overall, however, the filmmakers tell a great story thats shot beautifully and paced perfectly. There were some reviewers in here who felt the film dragged and was boring. Their mothers clearly raised them retarded in a tool shed because this is a seriously great film.

I think this was right before Joaquin Phoenix did Gladiator and you see shades of that character here. There is a particular scene where the lighting on him perfectly reveals his inner character. You don't see his eyes and you can just see the hatred in him.

Absolute awesome. I did have one qualm about the film (spoiler alert): In the scene where Marky Mark is about to shoot the intruder in his mom's house, WHY didn't he kill the dude? Instead, he injured him and let him go!! WTF?? Other than that, great film, go see it now.