Underworld (1996 film)

Underworld is a 1996 neo-noir action comedy film directed by Roger Christian and starring Denis Leary, Joe Mantegna and Annabella Sciorra.

Plot
Just out of prison, Johnny Crown (Denis Leary) is running a bit late for a meeting he's been waiting seven years to attend. First he has a little unfinished business to take care of: hunt down every last man responsible for taking out his dad. Like everything else Johnny does, he's going to do it his way – in style. With his mysterious friend Frank Gavilan (Joe Mantegna) along for the ride, Johnny's out to uncover just who masterminded his father's hit, and settle the score for good, on one eventful Father's Day.

Cast

 * Denis Leary as Johnny Alt / Johnny Crown
 * Joe Mantegna as Frank Gavilan / Frank Cassady / Richard Essex
 * Annabella Sciorra as Dr. Leah
 * Larry Bishop as Ned Lynch
 * Abe Vigoda as Will Cassady
 * Robert Costanzo as Stan
 * Traci Lords as Anna
 * Jimmie F. Skaggs as Phil "Smilin' Phil" Fox / Todd Streeb
 * James Tolkan as Dan "Iceberg" Eagan
 * Heidi Schanz as Joyce Alt
 * Cristi Conaway as Julianne
 * Angela Jones as Janette
 * Michael David Simms as Mitch Reed
 * Amy Moon as Ava
 * Marc Baur as Leo

Release
In June 1996 the film premiered at Italy's Mystfest, where it was nominated for Best Film. It was also shown at the Austin Film Festival on October 10, 1996. The film was released in the United States on May 9, 1997.

Reception
CNN reviewer Paul Tatara gave a highly negative review of the film, dubbing it as "...very violent, very profane, and very bad. There's less killing at your local slaughterhouse, and the dialogue is probably sharper." Anita Gates of The New York Times noted that the film with all its flaws was "Fine actors in the lead roles struggle to maintain their dignity and to breathe some believability into these characters, who all talk strangely alike, and to an admirable degree they succeed."