This film is heavy like I knew it would be!! The dialogue is realistic as hell, the way those dudes talk is different from what I've observed in others 70s flicks - not sure how to put it, but they sound really 'recent'. Maybe the authenticity is due to the majority of folks in this film being real hoods and not professional actors -except for Syrus from The Warriors and a few other cats.

It was definitely one of the best 70s flicks I've seen but nobody I know has heard of it.

However I wish it showed the kind of life Sonny led AFTER he was released from prison. The ending was powerful when they juxtaposed scenes of the earlier parade and him standing on the same street lonely and realising everything was gone, but it just felt somewhat vague, although that's only a minor thing IMO.

I'd definitely recommend it!