The book is much better. Another great book made into a decent film is Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood. The book is by Denis Lehane, and I highly recommend it (I know the thread is about films, but hell.....) A truly great film IMO, is Once Upon A Time In America. De Niro at his best, and better than the Godfather films if you ask me. In more recent times, Training Day, with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke is excellent. Not really into subtitles, but I did see City of God, and agree it's very good.