Here's a good old gangster flick in the modern manner. Director Walter Hill does his best job for some time on this story of a facially deformed robber (Mickey Rourke) double-crossed by fellow-thieves Ellen Barkin and Lance Henriksen, who kill Johnny's partners and make off with the loot. Near death after an attack by convicts hired by Henriksen, Johnny is offered a new face by plastic surgeon Forest Whitaker if he'll go straight. All this is taken with a pinch of salt by detective A Z Drones (Morgan Freeman) and by the audience, who know that Johnny Gruesome turned Handsome is hell-bent on revenge. Fast-moving, undemanding and very violent, the film is full of viciously dynamic action scenes and strong performances from all those mentioned. Elizabeth McGovern even manages to put punch and character into the role of the nice girl who almost keeps Johnny away from the vengeance trail.