Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Friends of Eddie Coyle

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Criterion #475).
1973 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Steven Keats, Alex Rocco
Director: Peter Yates
Available from Amazon.

Peter Yates directed this film adaptation of George V. Higgins' novel of the same name. It had long been unavailable on home video until just a couple of weeks ago, although iTunes had it available for sale in 2007, according to some quick research I just conducted.

Robert Mitchum is Eddie "Fingers" Coyle, an aging and weary Boston-based weapons dealer unwilling to serve a long sentence in prison for his role in a truck hijacking. So, he turns informant for the local police and the treasury department. Eddie is still unwilling to turn his back entirely on his life of crime, so he continues his illegal gun running operations.

In desperation, Coyle agrees to inform on a group of gun buyers who engage in home invasions and ransom/extortion, but to his surprise, the police tell him that those criminals were finally brought in earlier that day. Eddie's mob associates believe that Coyle snitched, and they assign his best friend, Dillion (Boyle), to rub him out. Dillon, before carrying out his orders, decides to take Eddie out for a night on the town, with dinner, and a Boston Bruins game.

What Eddie doesn't realize, though, is that he's not the only gangster trying to save his skin by turning informant.

This film was a flop in 1973, and vanished without a trace, which is a real shame. Criterion did a good job remastering the film for DVD release, and its best extras are contained within the 48-page booklet in the DVD case: two lengthy essays about the movie, including a feature on Mitchum from a 1973 issue of Rolling Stone.

Highly, highly recommended movie.

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