Film Review: The Friends of Eddie Coyle

Sometimes, you can't trust anyone. Photo from film/art Gallery. 

Robert Mitchum is one of the quintessential actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood. His menacing but calm stare and haggard face are enough to grab anyone's attention. To paraphrase my grandfather, Mitchum was the bare-knuckled, cigarette-smoking underdog who would not hesitate to knock out the bully at the neighborhood bar. He may excel at playing one of the tough guys, but Mitchum can also take complex, troubled characters and simplify them through his blunt confidence. Although the Oscar-nominated actor may be intimidating, he never tried too hard to display his masculinity. It is his technique of connecting with audiences. This is why one of the best performances of his impressive career is the out-of-luck gunrunner, Eddie "Fingers" Coyle, in The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

He provides many guns, specifically pistols, for bank robbers throughout Boston, Massachusetts. In order to avoid a prison sentence, Eddie cooperates with a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Dave Foley, who is played by Richard Jordan. On top of that, the running-on-empty mobster sets his acquaintances up for jail time. This desperate gangster walks on a tightrope being an informer for Dave and betraying people who work loyally for him like another arms supplier, Jackie Brown, portrayed by Steven Keats. This supporting character should not be confused with Pam Grier's titular character in Quentin Tarantino's underrated 1997 film, Jackie Brown. Even when he tries to clear his name, Eddie just cannot catch a break and still suffers for his past crimes. It is him versus the world of organized crime.

Dozens of neo-noir films made the 1970s a highlight for movies all about criminals and their shady interactions with law enforcement. The Friends of Eddie Coyle has everything that you would expect in a grimy, blue-collared gangster film.

A bank robbery? Check.

A car chase? You bet.

Even more unruly, back-stabbing criminals? That's right.

It is unfortunate that The Friends of Eddie Coyle underperformed at the box office back in 1973. It was during an era of American cinema when moviegoers were crowing about films like The French Connection, Chinatown, and The Godfather. Such a devastating story primarily stands out because of Mitchum's impeccable performance. Only Mitchum can accurately portray a character as crooked and conflicted as Eddie without being either overly sentimental or unusually reserved. His character's grit and insecurity collide in a subtle manner that makes this middle-aged criminal quite memorable and intriguing. You may want to feel sorry for this low-life gangster, but, deep down, you know his gloomy fate is sealed. This movie also serves as a credible template for more contemporary gangster films such as The Departed and The Town.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let's be thankful that we hopefully won't be put into a situation where we might have to double-cross family or friends. 

The Friends of Eddie Coyle is available for streaming on Kanopy and borrowing on DVD from the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, including all 16 active Birmingham Public Library locations.

By William Anthony | Librarian Ⅰ, Citizen Services