Mob Land movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Mob Land

This violent movie about life in a small town releases on August 4, 2023.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 51 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

A sheriff tries to keep the peace when a desperate family man violently robs an illegal pill mill with his brother-in-law, alerting an enforcer from the New Orleans mafia.

The film was directed and written by Nicholas Maggio with the story written by Rob Healy.

THINGS I LIKED:

The presence of John Travolta in this movie is what will draw most people’s attention to it. As always, he does a fantastic job.
The other standout performances are by Stephen Dorff, Kevin Dillon, and Shiloh Fernandez. I just really wanted to see Shiloh get in a shower and shampoo his hair because he was so grungy, dirty, and sweaty during the entire movie.
There sure are a lot of “good ‘ole boy” characters. They’re all fleshed out really well.
The musical soundtrack is great.
The young actress who plays Shiloh Fernandez’s daughter is adorable.
Fun facts: Nicholas Maggio wrote the first draft in four days. They filmed the movie in only eleven days.
The original title for this movie was “American Metal.” Which do you like better?
Several people talk about the meaning of life and their purpose in the world.
I loved the shocking, ambiguous ending.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The title “Mob Land” made me assume the movie would include the classic New York mobsters.
It’s very violent.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be completely bored.
Some profanity, including many F-bombs
Bloody violence with a variety of weapons, as well as with hand-to-hand combat
A man is addicted to pills.
We see a robbery.
Someone gets a terminal illness.
We see a lot of people get shot and killed brutally.

THEMES:

Taking care of family
Protecting your community
Prescription drugs

FUNNY LINES:

“Were you going to kill me?” – Clayton Minor – Stephen Dorff “I was thinking about it.” – Shelby Conners (Shiloh Fernandez)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Sometimes, it’s not about how much can lift, right, but about how much weight you can carry that makes you strong.” – Shelby Conners (Shiloh Fernandez)
“I don’t kill the innocent.” – Clayton Minor – Stephen Dorff
“My mama taught me it’s not how hard you swing, but how sharp the axe.” – Shelby Conners (Shiloh Fernandez)
“We all play the hand we’re dealt.” – Shelby Conners (Shiloh Fernandez)

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Paradise City (with both John Travolta & Stephen Dorff): https://amzn.to/44G3wo3
I Am Wrath (2016): (with John Travolta): https://amzn.to/44L12Vd
Seized (2020): https://amzn.to/3JX1fNh