The Friends of Eddie Coyle Reviews

Mitchum is Eddie Coyle, a three-time loser. One more offense and he goes to prison for life--no parole, no hope. Police learn of an impending Boston bank robbery and go to Coyle, telling him that they know he earns a living for his destitute family by running illegal goods across state lines. They will put him away unless he squeals on the robbery gang. He reluctantly agrees to help and, after selling the gang some guns, contacts detectives, who tell him his information is insufficient. He must go on being a permanent informer and is ordered to help capture gang boss Scalise (Rocco). Before Eddie can move, however, Scalise is arrested. Coyle's underworld friends point the finger at him, ordering him murdered. THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE is a tough look at the world of petty crooks and the sleazy side of the underworld. Mitchum is surprisingly effective as the down-and-out thief, as if worn out over the decades from earlier film noir escapades in THE RACKET and OUT OF THE PAST. Boyle is terrific as the thug who goes in for synthetic friendships, willing to sell out his own mother for survival in a system he knows will destroy him anyway. Yates's direction is grimly taut, and Monash's screenplay pulls no punches. A bit gruesome, but potent viewing nonetheless.