Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Little Odessa
1994
****
Director: James Gray
Cast: Tim Roth, Edward Furlong, Maximilian Schell, Vanessa Redgrave

A violent drama about a Russian immigrant family whose oldest son works for the mafia. His father detests him for it and his younger looks up to him for the same reason. The story is powerful and it never goes for the usual crime film clichés. The cast comes from around the world but, thanks to their great performances, they come across as a believable family.