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Live by Night
2016 129 min United States of America R 18+
★5.9
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Ben Affleck
🎭 Based on
«Live by Night»
byDennis Lehane
Trailers
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Teaser
Teaser
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Description
A group of Boston-bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan.
Budget:
$90M
US Gross:
$10.38M
Worldwide:
$22.7M
Starring
Ben Affleck
Actor
Elle Fanning
Actor
Brendan Gleeson
Actor
Awards
4 nominations total
Key opinion
Live by Night is widely regarded as a visually stunning period piece that successfully recreates the Prohibition era through meticulous production design and cinematography. However, critical consensus suggests the film suffers from a predictable, emotionally hollow screenplay and a static lead performance, ultimately failing to distinguish itself within the crowded gangster genre.
| Production | The film features immersive and meticulously crafted period aesthetics, with production design and cinematography that effectively transport the viewer to the 1920s. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for being overly formulaic, failing to provide the narrative depth or thematic innovation expected of a high-profile crime drama. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Ben Affleck's performance are polarized, with some praising his understated, restrained approach while others find his portrayal of the protagonist flat, bland, and lacking in emotional growth. | |
| Pacing | Critics are divided on the film's pacing and structure; some appreciate the deliberate, expansive storytelling, while others find the narrative uneven, sluggish, or suffering from a lack of focus. | |
| Direction | The film’s action sequences are highlighted as technical successes that provide visceral thrills, though some viewers express disappointment at their relative scarcity compared to the drama. |