AMar_rom 'Brooklyn Rules' tells the story of three friends growing up in Brooklyn in the 80s. They live in a blue-collar, working-class neighborhood and have hopes for a good life ahead of them. The friendship bond among these young men is very strong. It runs for years living together. Nonetheless, time has caught up with them and life appears to open new horizons to each one of them; in this case an unforeseen event plays the role of separating their common lives for ever.One of the friends is a rather aloof individual (easy come, easy go) but also a very good student showing promise to enter Law School; in the meantime he works in a grocery store part-time. The second is preparing to get married to his girlfriend. He is also looking for a job and is ready to move out from his parents house. The third is attracted by the life of local mob people and slowly enters their circles. This is the only way he feels that people in the community will respect him.This is a very good and poignant film about friendship and loyalty especially in the 'tough' working-class neighborhoods of big cities like New York (here in this movie), but I think it would equally apply to many other cities where young people grow up and dream for a better tomorrow. I recommend strongly this film. A 9/10 from me.

SnoopyStyle Three lifelong friends grow up in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. Carmine Mancuso (Scott Caan) is the vain one. Bobby Canzoneri (Jerry Ferrara) is the cheapskate. Michael Turner (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is the scammer. In 1974, the 3 young boys found a dead body in the woods. Carmine took the lighter, Bobby got the dog, and Michael took the gun. Now in 1985, Michael is studying at Columbia Law and getting close to rich fellow student Ellen (Mena Suvari). Bobby is living at home whose biggest dream is a postal job. Carmine is getting in with wise guy Caesar (Alec Baldwin) who is a captain in the Gambino family.This is not as rich as other NY mafia movies. Director Michael Corrente has created a world of clichés and expected characters. The three guys do a reasonable job. They have a good mix of personalities. Alec Baldwin does a very good wise guy. The story just lacks the needed tension. It feels like a thin simple mobster movie.

adamtolife I'm a huge mob film fan and The Sopranos was one of the greatest things to ever happen to my life so i expected 'Brooklyn Rules' to further affirm my belief that being a mobster is the greatest thing a man can do... unfortunately it didn't really help a great deal.As i always seem to end up saying, this certainly wasn't a bad movie, i just expected a bit more from Terence Winter. The plot is very typical, three young kids grow up in the same neighborhood, one turns over to the mob lifestyle, the others follow different paths... i won't spoil you're enjoyment but yeah it's very typical, it reminded me a lot of 'The Black Donnellys' television series if it was set in the 80's. Mena Suvari is superb, Freddie Prinze Jr. struggles to grasp the new york accent and Alec Baldwin is... well... Alec Baldwin. If you enjoy any mob film then definitely check this out as it won't harm you one bit but if you're just looking for a casual watch then you're better off digging out 'A Bronx Tale' again.

yogiwolfe Seriously, one big cliché. It was as if they watched every mob movie, combined it with Good Will Hunting, and threw in a little bad writing. Freddie Prinze with a Brooklyn accent? Seriously? The interaction between main characters is dull and predictable. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone, especially someone who is actually from Brooklyn, for fear they would be very insulted. And the relationship between Freddie Prinze and Mena Suvari?? Are any of us supposed to care at all? Alec Baldwin is the only light in this otherwise dark film. This is a very shallow portrayal of complex themes. At least we still have the Departed.