The Coen brothers put their stamp on the Gangster film in this Caricature of a Gangster film that uses real characters to fill out the details of the portrait of a gangster film and how gangster films should look and feel.

Albert Finney is Leo a likeable Irish gangster boss who runs things his way with the help of his confidant and trusted friend Tom, played by Gabriel Byrne. His authority is challenged by less classy but perhaps more ruthless Italian gangs. His battle to defend his kingdom and his manhood are some times obscured within the actions of Tom who has a penchant for getting beaten up but somehow convinces everyone that he is really on their side.

This movie reminds me somewhat of the Glorious Basterds because just as that was a movie about war movies this is a movie about gangster movies. It avoids telling us the setting and avoids any reference to historical characters because it is about all gangsters and all gangster movies not any individual or any specific movie.

i recommend this as well done both as a story as well as a movie with several subplots and what amounts to directorial commentary along the way.