7.5 stars! While I can't say I've seen everything he's done, this certainly stands out to me as the best acting I've seen Charlie Sheen do. I can't help but be curious how accurate the portrayal of the character and story is (it's based on a true story), but given the nature of it, I don't see why they'd have to exaggerate or take license with anything.It may seem to start slightly expeditious, but it doesn't feel rushed once it gets going and, again, it's a true story and screen time is limited, so it really does a great job of setting everything up and getting the viewer into the bulk to the happenings and through them.Great atmosphere, well-paced. Raw and engaging. A good script and the directing is more than solid in every aspect (he gets TOPS out of all of the actors, the use of music and sound is outstanding, non-intrusive yet evocative camera work, etc.) It's somewhat minimalistic which allows the great acting backed by all of it to shine through. It almost feels like a play in the desert.If you've thought to yourself "eh, Charlie Sheen in some crime movie? looks like B-cheese I'll pass" or similar, you should re-consider. It's not easily-digestible crime-actionflick fare either.This movie is serious, dark, and kind of like a surprise hit in the gut if you aren't ready for it.

I'm a biker mind you as well as a motorcycle mechanic and have a thing for crime/drama. This movie is by far my favorite movie ever. Charlie Sheen is amazing in this role. I have watched this movie no less than 50 times. It's incredible. Everything about how sheen played this role is awesome, from the starting when Virgil was saying you're not dirty enough, you're not crazy enough to the point where he grabs the cop and slams him against the tree....it's just pure gold. I have done some hunting online as well to the validity of this story and like some people have commented, I'm sure that saxon isn't his real name and that Hollywood did "make" it more "movie" however the story is fantastic and i'll be watching it another 50 times i'm sure.

Seeing the words "realistic", "fantastic", etc ad nauseam in conjunction with this movie or Charlie "The Sleepwalker" Sheen's performance makes me wonder why I was the only person who didn't receive free drugs with the movie's rental. Plot has more holes than Swiss cheese & special effects are like most movies nowadays - poor because computer generation cannot recreate the excitement of actual crashes of "REAL" vehicles. Madsen plays Madsen which in itself is not bad and Sheen, well he at least tries in this movie but I'd rather be dragged kicking & screaming to the ballet than sit through this mess again.

the other person that reviewed this said it was a guy movie. i don't think this is so, the story is really deep and emotional as far as sheens character does, madsen is his usual self, bad-ass lol its one of those movies that really gets to you and takes you through the emotions of sheens character, for instance when he thinks things are getting good u sit up and take notice of how good things are, then things turn crappy and u really feel it, i agree with the other review tho that Charlie sheen should have definitely won some award for this.. he plays the part so well, i see him as a comedian but in this movie its strictly serious and its probably his best movie everMicky D