Directed by Peter Yates, “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” is another movie to add to the list of gems found in 1970’s American cinema. While infrequently uttered in conjunction with “The Godfather,” “Taxi Driver,” or a movie like Hal Ashby’s “The Last Detail,” Peter Yates’ film incorporates some prevalent themes of 70′s cinema; in particular that of disillusionment.

Once a crook worth knowing, Eddie Coyle is now past his prime and staring at a jail sentence that will put him behind bars for the remainder of his middle-age years. Eddie knows most of the people around town. The veteran crooks, the young hotheaded hoods, and even the cops. With a couple of kids on their way to college and a loving wife at home, Eddie aims to use his resources to get out of the ditch and live the rest of his life as a free man.

Concerning plot, I can say no more than this. But the brilliance of the film is found in its pacing and its ability to unfold ever so delicately. I assure you, there are many details to be uncovered, just not all at once.

And while we’re on the subject of tempo, “The Friends of Eddie Coyle,” has the absolute best bank robbery scene I have ever laid eyes on. It’s essentially a display of “how-to rob a bank.” Yates deftly advances through every facet of the robbery, making the experience almost comical because of how perfectly it is orchestrated.

Finally, starring in this thriller is Robert Mitchum. You may know him from “The Night of the Hunter” or the original “Cape Fear,” where he acted alongside Gregory Peck. Let me be the first to tell you, Mitchum is something else. Eddie Coyle is weary yet wise, aggressive but frail, and his demeanor reveals a confluence of nostalgia and repentance. Every, and I mean every minutia of Coyle is masterfully portrayed by Mitchum, and if nothing else, see the movie for his brilliance.

Check it out. You won’t regret it.

-Max