Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) are two offenders acting on the tough streets of South Boston. Coming from separate families, but equally disunited , they form a deep friendship. They do whatever is necessary to survive, playing by the illegal and immoral rules of the neighborhood they live in. While Brian and Paulie grow, their small crimes turn into bigger crimes . They get on the hands of Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman), the head of organized crime, who deals with all the illegal business in the South region. Brian is the one who is totally lost in the drug world and and not even the love for his family can’t save him. In time, they get to prison. While they are imprisoned they have enough time to think well about their life. After they are released, they want different things: Paulie wants to escape the criminal life with a last, bold and possibly violent robbery , while Brian wants to stay with his family. When Paul asks Brian for help, he is forced to take the most important decision of his life: to help his friend or to save his family. He can’t do both.