Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

In the end, Meadows' film lacks the bite it needs to make us care about this oddball trio, endearing though they are.

What Leone did for cowboys and crime, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands does for a more contemporary genre.

Some strong performances make it go by fairly painlessly, but inconsistencies involving plot and character keep it from ever being more than marginally involving.

Like a Mike Leigh film on steroids, situations don't dawn slowly on these characters, they come crashing down on their heads.