Besides the violence it pretty much felt like it was directed like a made for TV movie and there were several scenes and moments totally ripped off from the Godfather, which I think every director who makes a gangster film tries to mimic. Like the montages of the murders cutting back and forth.
It was also too slow. There was a prison montage showing how they smuggle in contraband which totally slowed things down and should have been moved to the opening scene to set the stage.
There was too much focus on his love life and no real protagonist and it was scattered with random little stories that hardly went anywhere and too much meandering.
Finally, Edward James Olmos played it too slow and low key, but it came off phony. Normally I would give it one star if I don't like it, but the two stars is for shooting in an actual prison to show some authenticity.
It was also too slow. There was a prison montage showing how they smuggle in contraband which totally slowed things down and should have been moved to the opening scene to set the stage.
There was too much focus on his love life and no real protagonist and it was scattered with random little stories that hardly went anywhere and too much meandering.
Finally, Edward James Olmos played it too slow and low key, but it came off phony. Normally I would give it one star if I don't like it, but the two stars is for shooting in an actual prison to show some authenticity.