Freddie Prinze, Jr. plays Michael, who narrates from a perspective on the past, longs for a better life in the story that unfolds. He manages to get into pre-law studies at Columbia. His friend Carmine, played charismatically by Scott Caan, is a fast-talking, hot-tempered type who envies the world of the Mafia and is trying his best to ingratiate himself to become one of the guys.Their mutual friend whom they like but affectionately tease is Bobby (Jerry Ferrara), who is none to bright but aspires to marry his sweetheart and settle down with a job, say, in the post office. But can he even pass a requisite exam?

As might be expected, Carmine resents Michael, especially when he takes up with Ellen (Mena Suvari), a pretty student with society airs. The two are worlds apart, except for a mutual attraction. (How many times have we been there before?). And Michael’s friends are an embarrassing drag on the relationship.

The reality of the Brooklyn environment comes courtesy of Alec Baldwin in one of his particularly menacing performances as Caesar, the local gang boss who brutally rules the scene. Pity the poor Vietnam war veteran would-be hot-shot who tries to muscle in on Caesar’s racket. When we note that the interloper carries an ear as a gruesome souvenir of his killings in Vietnam, we know that his own ears may not be safe, especially when Caesar eyes a meat slicing machine during the inevitable confrontation.