Film Review – Mob Land

Poster art for “Mob Land” finds star John Travolta with a gun in his hands, involved in some incident of violence. The image promises something active about the feature, which has been described as a “thriller” in press information. The picture is most certainly not active in the way thrillers usually are, with writer/director Nicholas Maggio going for more of a contemplative tone with the endeavor, exploring the price of crime as a single act of theft becomes a nightmare for a young man desperate to support his family. “Mob Land” has a few moments of physical activity, but it’s largely a film about hard stares and philosophical discussions, with Maggio unwilling to tighten up the effort, giving it some type of forward momentum. The helmer would rather stew in hazily realized atmosphere, and while he scores with some dips into darkness, Maggio misses an opportunity to turn all this misery into a gripping viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com