This is an enjoyable movie. A supposedly down-and-out writer (Jake, played by William Peterson) who is actually working undercover in order to get some material for a novel gets more than he bargains for. The cops he works for turn out to be as bad as the gangsters he's supposedly trying to get arrested. He gradually befriends one of the gangsters (Frankie, played by Michael Wincott) and much of the plot turns on issues of betrayal, love and friendship. Beautifully shot, well acted...Wincott is particularly fine...and a plot that keeps you wondering what's going to happen. Some pretty violent scenes, so those who don't like violence, keep away.Even though the movie is shot in color, the lighting reminds you of the great noir genre films of the 50's. Diane Lane plays Melissa, the love interest for both men. The ending is a surprise.

Blew me away. Very impressed. This f-----ing movie GUNSHY has what movies today have totally missed and left behind, GOOD STORY TELLING and GOOD ACTING. It reminded me of the great movies I used to look forward to watching when I was growing up. Great characters and a story that pulls you in and ends with a twist. It's like the filmmakers must have used Casablanca or Mean Streets or something for their ideas, because of the cool film noir feel it had. Story was so involving and you felt like you were in it right there with the characters. I just ordered it the other day from Amazon and the only reason I did was because I love Gangster films. I watched it with my brother and we no idea what to expect and suddenly half way through, I realized I was into it and hooked. Michael Wincott tore it up, he should have gotten some kind of an award or something. All I've ever seen that guy do was play bad guys and they were always interesting but here he was kind of a modern day Humpfrey Bogart here. His performance is flawless, so believable. Diane Lane was so sexier than I've ever seen her and portrayed her character exactly like she lived in Atlantic City and was that girl. Bill Petersen I didn't know very well. I know he;s on that TV show CSI but I don't watch TV.Matter of fact I hate it.Petersen was really good though and right on the money as a guy you love to hate. The writing, the style, the Direction, the whole thing was something to cheer about. Check it out. That is, if you want to watch something that's different and way above the crap we're expected to pay eleven bucks to walk out of.

Here is an example far beyond what you can expect from a budget so small you could hold it in your hand, a filmed impression of a story familiar to us even before we could pronounce "Charles Dickens" and "A Tale of Two Cities" that stirs us from a sleep not unlike the one which characterizes Michael Wincott in his most popular roles as we struggle with a dream like the one in which William L. Peterson finds himself in the least popular of his, finally awakened as are these two actors by the voices of two men of literature, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Wincott and Peterson hear and obey. They do a far far better thing than they have done before, for Lucie Manette, for us all. The director's vision replaces for our modern minds the awkward spray that is the guillotine's historic signature with the ebbing undertow of grateful friendship, and honest sweat on a tropical beach. At last.

First is this movie worth renting or taking the time to see it? The answer is yes. Michael Wincott is very good in this role and as an actor in general and his presence between his character and that of his woman and his "friend" gives this movie a believability that other movies lack. Of course the plot has a minor dip when William Peterson betrays Michael and sleeps with Diane Lane. But overall the story line is solid... the major upside to this movie though is that Michael finally plays a character who has some morals and who doesn't die at the end. So if you love Michael Wincott go see this movie.