Live by Night

In the Roaring Twenties, Joe Coughlin, the son of a prominent police captain, abandons his privileged upbringing to become a bootlegger in the Prohibition-era underworld. He navigates a treacherous path through mob wars, forbidden love, and betrayal, ultimately rising to power as a formidable gangster in Tampa, Florida. His pursuit of wealth and influence forces him to confront the consequences of his choices and the violent nature of his chosen life.

Live by Night received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its visual style and Affleck's direction but criticized its pacing and derivative narrative. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating the period detail and crime drama elements, while others found it lacking in emotional depth and originality.

• Visually stylish with a compelling atmosphere, but ultimately a familiar and somewhat sluggish crime drama.
• Ben Affleck delivers a competent performance and directs with confidence, though the story fails to fully engage.
• The film suffers from a lack of originality, borrowing heavily from classic gangster tropes without bringing much new to the table.

Google audience: Audiences generally found 'Live by Night' to be a well-made crime film with good performances and a strong sense of period, but many felt it was too long and predictable, failing to live up to the promise of its premise.

The film is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, who also wrote the novels 'Mystic River' and 'Shutter Island'.