Boston, 1920s. Despite the Prohibition, alcohol flows freely in the clandestine bars run by the mafia. Son of the Boston Police Chief, Joe Coughlin decided to lead a criminal life after surviving the First World War. But he rubs himself to the tougher of him by falling in love with the girlfriend of a powerful caid, whom he tries to double. To escape him, he decides to make an agreement with the Italian mafia and settles in Tampa, Florida, to rebuild his reputation ...

Picture gallery

The beautiful rise of Ben Affleck director is therefore over. Gone Baby Gone in 2007, The Town in 2010 and Argo in 2012, crowned Oscars' best film, had enabled him to regain a presence and a credibility damaged by choices of questionable actors. On the paper, Live By Night , his second adaptation of Dennis Lehane, with a prestigious cast ( Zoe Saldana , Chris Cooper Elle Fanning , Brendan Gleeson , Sienna Miller * In advance. But on the screen, it's a whole other story: in this case, that of a gangster in the America of the Prohibition, between amourettes, treasons, friendships and shootings in chic suits and in cars of collection. Nothing very thrilling on the menu of this very academic film, which overflows many characters and things with a writing that is terribly lacking in finesse. Advised to the amateurs of the genre, who will be able to forgive this exercise of style not exciting but packed with care.