Gabriel Byrne portrays "Reagan," who serves as an enforcer for the powerful and unsavory mob leader "Leo" (Albert Finney). He finds himself in a difficult position during a power struggle between Leo and his potential successor, “Caspar” (John Polito). Complicating matters is "Bernie" (John Turturro), a bookie who causes trouble and also happens to be the brother of "Verna" (Marcia Gay Harden) – who is both Leo’s girlfriend and Reagan's mistress. "Reagan" attempts to mediate between these individuals, but when those attempts are unsuccessful, he is discarded by his former employer and must look out for himself. At first glance, this appears to be a typical gangster movie, with killings and the predictable cycle of vengeance. However, the Coen brothers have skillfully developed more layered characters and added some unusual elements to the story, which ultimately makes it an engaging two hours. Finney’s accent is inconsistent at times, and I don't believe Byrne possesses the strength needed to handle his significant role as effectively as someone like Edward G. Robinson or George Raft would have; despite this, it remains a well-crafted look into the shadowy world of organized crime that is worth seeing.

Source on TMDB