Title: Live by Night
Year: 2016
Rating: 6.2
Cast: Ben Affleck, Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Messina, Sienna Miller
Description: The intoxicating aroma of 1920s Boston, steeped in illicit liquor and shadowed ambition, hangs heavy throughout Ben Affleck’s “Live by Night.” This isn’t just a gangster film; it’s a moral tapestry woven with threads of loyalty, betrayal, and the corrosive nature of power. Affleck masterfully crafts an atmosphere thick with the tension of a city teetering on the edge of chaos, mirroring the internal struggles of its protagonist. While the pacing occasionally falters under the weight of its sprawling narrative, the film’s exploration of the seductive allure of the criminal underworld and the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition resonates long after the credits roll. The performances are compelling, particularly the nuanced portrayal of the central character grappling with his own moral compass. Ultimately, "Live by Night" is a stylish and thought-provoking exploration of the human cost of living on the wrong side of the law, leaving viewers pondering the blurred lines between right and wrong.