When the chief baddie both stutters and slaughters puppies, you know you're in trouble.

A generic, derivative gangster yarn.

Its many memorable characters, adrenalin-charged action sequences and heart-stopping car chases make for a guilty pleasure.

As violent as this mob thriller is, it also has a terrific sense of its central characters, focussing on strong emotions and moral decisions. And even though it's overcomplicated, the result is a sleek and very classy.