Between the canals

Back in the '90s the rap movie came of age. Gangstas shooting each other, selling drugs, trying to 'get out', and family problems. A decent white version from that era was Laws of gravity. Now, over fifteen years later we get a Dublin movie very similar. Lots of shaky camerawork, violence, sub-plots, older and wiser men giving advice, famous locations, pubs, poolhalls, drugs, defeated women, police, and a younger more violent generation waiting in the wings. Fair play to the filmmakers for producing this. It should do well in Boston if it's ever released there. However, the movie is full of clichés and you can see a mile off what's going to happen next. Also, you don't feel bothered when the characters get killed as they are so unlikeable. Still, it's good to see an Irish movie have a bit of energy and anything that moves aways from the middle-class muck that gets produced here is a refreshing change.