Drama,Action,Crime
United States of America
Force of Evil is a 1948 film noir directed by Abraham Polonsky and starring John Garfield, Thomas Gomez, and Marie Windsor. The film tells the story of lawyer Joe Morse, who is trying to consolidate the small-time numbers racket operators into a big, powerful operation that can compete with the larger, more established gangs. Joe's efforts are opposed by his older brother, Leo, who is one of the small-time operators that Joe wants to bring under his umbrella.
As Joe tries to convince Leo to join him, the siblings' complicated relationship is revealed. Joe has always been the more successful and ambitious of the two, but he feels guilty about abandoning his brother when they were younger. Leo resents Joe's success and believes that his brother has forgotten their roots. Meanwhile, Joe struggles to balance his ambition with his conscience, as he realizes that consolidating the racket will lead to more exploitation of the poor and working-class communities that the racket preys upon.
The film's tight script and innovative visuals make for a powerful viewing experience. Polonsky's direction is characterized by sharp angles and deep shadows, creating a noir atmosphere that matches the morally ambiguous characters and their complicated relationships. The film's themes of greed, power, and loyalty make it a classic of the film noir genre.
