A very black crime comedy from, of all people, Darren Aronofsky which means it's also quite nasty, (for a 'comedy' it's very violent and not really that funny), but it's more than redeemed by Aronofsky's usual visual style and the brilliant cinematography of Matthew Libatique, an unusually original take on a well-worn plot with a few nice curve balls thrown along the way and by a superb performance from Austin Butler as a hapless, heavy-drinking ex-football player who accidentally falls foul of some very unpleasant Russian and Jewish gangsters.
It's also got a first-rate supporting cast that includes Regina King, Matt Smith (nicely cast against type), Zoe Kravitz, Griffin Dunne, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio and Carol Kane. Of course, there's not a frame of it that's really believable, made up as it is from tried and tested ideas but it still may be the most enjoyable film Aronofsky has made to date. (And make sure you stay for the off-the-all closing credits).
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