The Worst Film Ever

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

In the end, I think is a good movie. The resolution is great at every level.But the truth is the first act is quite boring. A lot of characters are presented with (boring) care. After the work is done (and it feels like work, which is quite awful, probably), the movie starts to pick up in tensionThe third act is really great and makes the movie what it is.The performances are just fine in my opinion. Professional might be the right word. So... If you like Ben Afflect, you have to see this If you DISlike Ben Afflect, you better not see it If you are indiferent to him, I recommend it

So slow to get going, we lost interest after 20 minutes. Expect better from a Ben Affleck film.

The first massive misfire from Affleck, all this talk of Oscar buzz hindered its chances of being anything other than an incoherent mess. It wasn't even a narrow misfire, he strayed so far away from the target that he obliterated Prohibition gangster films along the way. The son of a superintendent decides to walk the life of a mobster when he is unable to resist the uncontrollable urge to steal money from a powerful outlaw. His lover is presumed dead, he moves away, some other characters are introduced, Christianity and repenting sins is forced in...oh, and there's the KKK...wait, he wants to build a giant casino? Why is Brendan Gleeson not in this more? Why are all the characters sidelined? Where is the excitement!? Aside from the gripping introductory car chase and final shootout, this is nothing more than pretentious melodrama which should've been titled 'The Ben Affleck Show: Prohibit Prohibition'. I'm fine with Affleck garnering all of the screen time, especially given his previous directing efforts 'The Town' and 'Argo'. But not when he is this boring! He looks like he couldn't even be bothered as he awkwardly smiles all the way through hunched over like a human wall. When you have rising talents like Miller, Fanning and Saldana, don't waste them. They all gave captivating performances yet each had five minutes to showcase their acting range. None of the supporting characters were developed and were there as a means to accompany Affleck on his quest for money and redemption. I felt no emotional attachment towards any of them. The story was utterly tedious as it's paced slower than a 1920's automobile. For an overstuffed plot, I'm surprised that nothing really happens. I will say that the Prohibition-era production design was authentic and the accompanying visual style was glamorously glossy. Just unfortunate that every other element was glossed over. Long, dull and boring. I've nearly forgotten about this already. I can only hope Affleck comes back from this, which I'm sure has hit him hard...

Ben Affleck proves once again that he cannot write, direct, produce and star in a movie. He has failed to create an interesting picture despite the fascinating material he has at hand. First, the novel by Dennis Lehane; second, the territory of gangland Boston and Florida during Prohibition; third and finally, a cast of great actors in the supporting roles from Brendan Gleeson to Elle Fanning, Chris Messina and Chris Cooper. Why isn't this a good movie? It should be, but Affleck once again does not seem to be able to take the helm wearing all those hats and produce a great movie. The stereotypes abound, the women are cardboard cutouts and the Godfather it ain't. I read this movie was originally going to run to three hours, before Warner Bros forced Affleck to cut it. As it is, at a few minutes over 2 hours, I can't imagine sitting through more of this boring, snail-paced and dull gangster film. Don't waste your time on Live By Night: watch the Untouchables, rent the Godfather trilogy or, better yet, go outside and take a long walk instead.