By the Gun

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By the Gun

R

2014

1h 49m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

40%

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5 Reviews

20%

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250+ Ratings

A rising Boston gangster (Ben Barnes) endangers those around him when he starts to make moves without the knowledge of his boss (Harvey Keitel).

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

A strong contender for laziest mob movie ever made, the Boston-set Italian mafia tale "By the Gun" proves that what was once thrillingly exotic and coolly dangerous about gangster films is now hopelessly monotonous.

Dec 4, 2014

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Tom Meek

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

It's a confident composition impressively made for a paltry $3 million and it takes place in Boston's North End, where, among the outbreak of yuppie gentrification, the vestiges of the old school Mafia somehow still rage.

Apr 13, 2018

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Rebecca Murray

Showbiz Junkies

While By the Gun does incorporate much of what you'd expect from films of its ilk, it's also surprisingly self-aware.

Rated: B-

Jan 27, 2015

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Laura Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Cliched, confused and thoroughly unnecessary, "By the Gun" features a meaty role for Boston rapper Slaine ("The Town") as Nick's best friend George, but writer Emilio Mauro deep sixes the character's early promise in a laughable "Mean Streets" ripoff.

Rated: D

Dec 5, 2014

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Isaac Feldberg

We Got This Covered

Certain scenes in By the Gun pack a powerful punch, but it doesn't coalesce into a satisfying whole.

Rated: 5/10

Dec 4, 2014

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Jelisije J

A movie with an interesting premise that fails to uphold it self together with having a script that never truly reached it potential.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

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Brian

Pretty weak movie. Steven Segal wannabe.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/02/22

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michael k

Not a top tier gangster movie but will give you your mob fix

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A good and enjoyable film despite it's poor reviews.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Yet another film about a young wannabe joining the mob but getting more than he bargained for - Harvey Keitel is in it...of course he is, why wouldn't he? That said its watchable enough and has a grim, tough edge to it throughout.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

When a man takes the oath to become a made guy in the Mafia, he promises to put the family before anything else. For most gangsters, this never becomes an issue, but for Nick Tortano (Ben Barnes) it becomes the basis for an impossible decision. A series of events lead Tortano into having to decide between his new family and his old one. Either choice means that someone he loves will become a target, and he has to decide, who in his life is the most expendable. Most films about the Mafia follow a very specific pattern, leading people to say all these films are the same. There is some truth to that, but By The Gun is certainly an exception. The film follows a new member is a small family and the story told from his point of view, giving us a very different look at La Costa Nostra. Ben Barnes stars in one of his first leading roles and was outstanding. Barnes, mostly recognized as an ancillary character from the Chronicles of Narnia series, finally steps into the spotlight and shows that he has what it takes to star. I was impressed with the story and setting of this film, but I wasn't crazy about the cast, in fact, there were several actors who really brought the quality of this movie down, but Ben Barnes wasn't one of them. His performance really added some legitimacy to this film and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be recommending it at all. By The Gun is not your typical Mafia movie, because Nick Tortano isn't your typical gangster. He has a conscience that comes into conflict with his life of crime at every turn and watching him decide the fate of everyone he loves was really something worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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James Mottern

Director

Ben Barnes

Nick Tortano

Leighton Meester

Ali Matazano

Slaine

George Mullins

Toby Jones

Jerry

Harvey Keitel

Salvatore Vitaglia

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Synopsis

A rising Boston gangster (Ben Barnes) endangers those around him when he starts to make moves without the knowledge of his boss (Harvey Keitel).

Director: James Mottern
Producer: Matthew E. Chausse, Emilio Mauro
Screenwriter: Emilio Mauro
Distributor: Millennium Entertainment
Production Co: Artina Films, Mirabelle Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Sexual Content|Some Drug Use|Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2015
Runtime: 1h 49m

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