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Think back to the days of Marky Mark – ok maybe
that’s too traumatic for you, but it makes young Mark Wahlberg's
progression from himbo pin-up to the absorbing actor that we
see in The Yards, even more
impressive.
The film revolves around the return of Leo Handler
from prison, where he has taken the fall for his friends.He wants to please his mother, support her, but he wants to
work with his friends too, and his friends are involved in the shadier
side of deals for railway contracts in the firm of his uncle. Gradually he
becomes more involved in the corruption that underpins the business from
the firms themselves to the local official who benefit from their bribes.
Vote rigging, bribery and sabotage of trains are all going on down in the
yards (hence the name of the film). Finally, as witness to his murder he
finds himself hunted by the very people who got him involved – his own
family.
It’s a dark film. Literally. Many of the scenes are
at night, lighting is moody and the soundtrack is a weird combination the
sounds of trains. This added to the slow-burn intensity with which
Wahlberg plays his scenes to create an eerie atmosphere. You never quite
lose the impression that something violent is about to kick off.
Chalize Theron and Joaquin Phoenix are equally
impressive, as Leo’s cousin and his best friend. Both displaying an odd
kind of vulnerability in their relations with each other and with Leo. In
fact, the whole cast is excellent. But then they had a pretty good screen
play and an interesting director to work with in James Gray, whose last
film was Little Odessa.
So is there anything critical I can say? Not really.
I have never been in a cinema where I tension manifested itself in so much
concentration as I did watching this film. It’s not a film to see on a
Sunday when your brain is fried and you fancy some romance and perhaps the
ending was a little too optimistic. But other than that I would say, see
this film even if you think you won’t like it, you will. Oh yes, and
Mark Wahlberg doesn’t get his shirt off.
Katie
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