The Yards

A sensitive, intelligent and ambitious variation on the traditional going-straight story. Wahlberg is just out of prison and determined to stay out of trouble. Inevitably he runs straight into it when, under the influence of his uncle (Caan) and old pal (Phoenix), he gets involved in railyard sabotage and unforeseen murder. In terms of conventional suspense, the film is too muted and sombre to deliver the goods convincingly, but as a character study and an exploration of different notions of family, friendship, duty and loyalty, the careful attention to detail pays off. A great cast helps, as does the sometimes surprising use of music (notably Holst's 'Saturn').