Gang warfare in the boroughs of NYC, seen at their absolute grimiest. This is a film that's admirable for its inner fire, and its determination, if not for its execution or storytelling. In a sense, it almost works as a sheer abstract; lingering shots of graffiti-laden subway cars and dark, wet city streets abound, lending it value as something of a time capsule in the modern light.

The plot is adorably simple, though, and overacted at every turn. It's no surprise to discover that this was the first or second film on nearly every actor's resume, although I'm not sure a more accomplished thespian could do much with this script, which left me laughing from its sheer absurdity more than once. It's more of a visual film anyway, reliant upon the cityscapes and quaintly-themed gang ensembles to do most of the heavy-lifting. That's a wise decision, as it's generally entertaining to look at, though the aforementioned gangs vary from laughable (an entire syndicate of mimes) to, actually, pretty cool (lots of stylish fedoras in this flick).

Unfortunately, there's a serious lack of violence for this kind of picture (flight seems to be the word of the day) and the second act drags on for so long, there's barely any time for adequate resolution at the end. A valiant effort, not to mention an influential one, but not a particularly good film of its own right.