The Line

It still surprises me just how big a dip Ray Liotta's career took after the release of 'Goodfellas', I have to admit that due to the quality of his performance in that particular movie, I really did think that 'A-list' status was pretty much assured. However, following a staggering number of bad role choices, he has in fact struggled to break out of the 'C-list' category that he subsequently fell into. 

It's actually a real shame as he's an actor that's capable of producing some superb & quite multi-layered performances but it would seem that whenever he gets the (rare) opportunity to do just that, it's usually in a flick that's unlikely to reach a particularly large audience...and 'The Line' is certainly a movie that fits that description.

 The first time we're introduced to his character, he's in a hotel room with what we assume to be either his girlfriend or hooker, waiting for the phone to ring with details of his next 'job'. Obviously this isn't something that we haven't seen before in other crime flavoured thrillers but when it then becomes apparent that the women in question is in fact a ghost from his past, it then gives this flick an opportunity to stand out from the crowd as this is clearly an individual struggling with issues that are hindering his ability to function effectively as an assassin.

It should also be said that this movie has a very decent support cast indeed and that they all manage to produce pleasingly well rounded & believable performances which consequently help to heighten the level of realism that this flick ultimately manages to attain. 

Although I won't go as far as to describe it as a classic of the genre, I definitely view this movie as an underrated dramatic thriller and one that really does deliver on a number of different levels, therefore I highly recommend seeking it out at some point in the future. 

Razorback Rating = Decent