Under Hellgate Bridge

This is the type of film that gets shown on early AM cheap cable. It's an inarticulate thug movie disguised as some sort of heavenly message. With the exception of Melia and Brian Vincent, who play convincing junk addicts, the performances are paper-thin, as is Sergio's self-important script. The entire theater audibly moaned in disgust in one particularly revolting scene in which the villain humiliates his wife over a bar table in order to prove a violently brain-dead point to his unarmed enemy. Plot holes and verging on a dozen crying scenes make this movie banal and boring!

I came across this movie on DVD. It's the kind of movie that would never be your first choice to hire from the video store.If the movie you want is out then you'll pick up something like this.Well it's got some guys from The Sopranos in it (Uncle Junior & Pussy),so you think "I'll give this a watch" but you're really not really happy with your choice in your heart. Part of you suspects that it sucks.Well, does it?The answer- Yes and No. Firstly, it's well-shot on great locations and the acting is generally good(Frank Vincent could have played the part of Sal in his sleep).Pussy from The Sopranos plays a Pussy clone and Uncle Junior plays a priest.The plot is fairly predictable and has a really sordid rape scene which is shown in an unecessarily graphic manner.The characters are ultra-dull and you really do not care what happens to them by the end of the movie. Still, Michael Sergio's direction shows promise and while the movie is less than great it is not bad. Mind you, my expectations were not high on that wet Thursday afternoon in the video store.

I chose to watch this movie because Jonathan LaPaglia (who plays Vincent) is one of my favorite actors. In this movie he plays a bad guy which is not a role he usually plays, but does a good job anyway. Overall, the movie had a good cast and was realistic. This is a movie that speaks truths about life, drugs, jealousy, and death. It shows how even though at times it feels like you're trapped and there is no way out, somehow if you search hard enough, you will always find a way out. "Under Hellgate Bridge" also depicts the fact that some people will never change, no matter what. Some people are destined to never change their ways while others are destined to overcome their problems and change their lives. This movie portrays humanity: the cruel, the vengeful, the greedy, the innocent, the weak, and the ones who fight to live a life that no one is determined to give them.

Ten minutes worth of story stretched out into the better part of two hours. When nothing of any significance had happened at the halfway point I should have left. But, ever hopeful, I stayed. And left with a feeling of guilt for having wasted the time. Acting was OK, but the story line is so transparent and weak. The script is about as lame as it could get, but again, stretching out the ten minute plot doesn't leave a whole lot of room for good dialogue.

This is an excellent film, a must see. Michael Sergio's direction is the best and the cast is topnotch! Michael Rodrick does a fantastic portrayal as Ryan, former bad boy turned hero. Jonathan LaPaglia is the perfect villain and the gorgeous Jordan Bayne was wonderful as Ryan's love interest. The rest of the cast, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore, Frank Vincent, Brian Vincent, Careena Melia, and Kristen Lee Kelly rounded out the film with their great performances.