THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE      1973 Directed by Peter Yates 102 minutes In English  This thriller is directed with old-school style and mood by Peter Yates (Bullitt) and stars the ruggedly charismatic Robert Mitchum as a low-level gun runner called Eddie who has been working for the mob for years. He has been in and out of jail so many times over the years that if he ever goes back inside he'll stay there forever for repeated offences. Mitchum fits this weather-beaten role like a well worn coat, with every seam naturally in place. You feel he has lived this character, and that the world-weariness in his eyes is authentic.

This is a low-key character study, meaning fewer action sequences and more focus on the rich performances of the seasoned actors. They portray people who entered the crime world when they were young and strong. But once in it, they were never able to leave. Now they are getting old and they are struggling to survive somehow in a dog-eat-dog world which is all they've ever known. We have none of the ritzy glamour of The Godfather here, just a couple of two-bit criminals, shrouded in a gritty atmosphere and overwhelmed by existential dilemmas. It's a gem of a film, and its sense of realism is razor-sharp. It also has a wonderfully deep autumn mood. This beautifully crafted vintage mob flick is one of the gems of the 70s, based on the novel by George V. Higgings.

This will be a high-definition screening