(Rated R, 96 mins)
Imagine “West Side Story’ without music but still fighting for their honor, their women and most importantly, their turf. Set in Brooklyn 1950, a lot of heart goes into this story revolving around a small neighborhood controlled by “The Deuces” headed by Leon (Stephen Dorff) who lost his younger brother to a drug overdose, years before. With another sibling, Bobby (Brad Renfro) and the gang of Deuces, they vow to keep the neighborhood drug-free, but like the “Sharks” harming the “Jets” enter Marco (Norman Reedus) determined to undermine their little plan. Don’t expect doo-wop, pompadours and rollerskate drive-thru’s. This 50s style movie is energetically led by Dorff’s strong acting skills and a lot of grit reflective of an era baby-boomers will relate to when poor kids protected their turf with passion (unlike today’s drive-by gang killings). Flavor of the month Johnny Knoxville is great as Vinne Fish and yes, that is Debbie Harry as Wendy. Director Scott Kalvert should knows his stuff having previously delivered “The Basketball Diaries” but it’s the screenplay by Christopher Gambale and Paul Kimatian that keeps this gang tale up his – er, alley.
