(rated R, 98 mins.) Inspired by a 1997 Esquire article, Robert DeNiro reteams with “This Boy’s Life” director Michael Caton-Jones in a tale of a respected New York City homicide detective who discovers his estranged son (James Franco) is the prime suspect of a murder case. The mood in the movie’s backdrop matches the theme of decaying relationship meets decaying city. As Detective Vincent LaMarca, DeNiro’s girlfriend (Frances McDormand) knows there was an ex-wife (Patti LuPone) but not that there was a young son left long ago. Now all type of emotional secrets are brought to the forefront as the intensity of the grown son’s arrival into crime becomes DeNiro’s focus of his past. Seems DeNiro’s deceased daddy had a crime history too which could possibly lead to the grandson’s crime driven present. And, on top of it, the girlfriend wants more of a commitment. Suddenly DeNiro’s having to spill more of himself to the woman he loves and to the son he lost. While the plot is intriguing, the acting excellent, the story remains predictable and eventually tedious to watch. Seems DeNiro could use a hit but this ain’t it.
