Fresh Kills

Actress Jennifer Esposito stars and directs a female drama from a post-modern post-Godfather gangster film era She co-stars with Emily Bader, Odessa A’zion and Annabella Sciorra In the 1980s on Staten Island the Larusso family is traditional and tightly knit But the father is secretly a mafia kingpin After their father is arrested and sent to prison the wife and daughters are left to fend for themselves Cut to 1993 our main lead Rose is forced to follow in her fathers footsteps in the family business But she wants to break away from the path; but it’s at the cost of her friends and alienates her from everyone Fear, violence, and rage dictate these women’s lives and Rose wants to break the unspoken code of men and women Maybe you get to a certain point in life where you realize things don’t work out the way you dreamt it, we’re lead to believe things are fair when they’re not, who protects us from even our loved ones?, is there no life outside of what we are born into? The film reinvents and reinvigorates mobster tropes It’s kinda ridiculous though it takes an hour and 20 minutes for the father’s story to go off the rails Rose isn’t really that interesting of a character, I actually found her sister, Connie way more developed being she’s way more embedded in this world that’s impossible to dismiss This also shows how tight the chains are for Rose trying to break away from her family ties in an inescapable lifestyle They make her feel trapped and obligated to only rely on them to make it through like she’s supposed to be the good quiet one and not focus on other things I think this would’ve worked better as a tv series than a feature film Yet Esposito commands a lot on screen and behind the camera making a female centric mafia story Shows another side of the risky, shady business when it comes to crime and gender politics It feels refreshing to focus on the otherwise marginalized women of organized crime although it could use a few tweaks

This is an absolute MUST-SEE!!! One of the best acting, writing , directed films I have seen!

Loved it!!! Amazing to see the focus on the women of the mob!!! Really difficult to watch cried several times but so glad I got to see this!!

This movie was spot on. This is a true glimpse into the life of a mobsters daughter. I am from Brooklyn /queens and grew up in fix era. This movie could have been a portrayal of a lot of my friends lives. From the accents which we have lol Yes we talk like Connie The clothes of that era The fighting , smoking , cursing I felt like if was a glimpse back into the 80’s and 90’s living in queens For those that aren’t familiar queens and brinks aren’t far from Staten Island. I enjoyed the movie I think Roses character was too quiet though A true Italian girl doesn’t keep her mouth shut 😀😀

Excellent movie! Very moving.

This movie was so raw and so real! It really gets under your skin and stays with you long after!! Incredible acting and holy cannoli(!!!) I did not see THAT coming!!!! :0

How is this movie not nominated? This movie should have several awards but yet not many know it exists 😞 Sad to see Hollywood hasn't changed!

A brilliantly refreshing view of the 'gangster' genre. Grabbed and held my attention for the duration, with brilliant performances all around. So good to see a film that's built on the emotional drama, and less on the male machismo and violence.

Having grown up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in Little Italy in the 1950s, through 1970s, and then living on Staten Island, I must say that this movie is so true to life. The way Martin Scorsese,, who grew up on my block, Elizabeth Street, portrayed real life in the old neighborhood in “Mean Streets,” this movie tells it like it was living in Staten Island in the 1980s and 1990s. This is real stuff…from the aromas of gravy in the hallways of the old block, to the shadows of the mob on Elizabeth Street and later in Great Kills, Staten Island, this is a Powerful portrayal of the Italian Mafia, and Italian family life that I so well remember.

It was a very good movie. I really liked the ending.