: Analysis often highlights Stallone's "naturalistic and stoic" performance. His character’s partial deafness is a central plot point, which directly impacts how sound and dialogue are utilized in the film's soundscape.

If you are analyzing the subtitles for language or accessibility purposes, these resources provide essential context on how the dialogue was constructed:

: Published in Film Quarterly , this paper explores the "emotional textures" of the film's dialogue and its use of small-town myths versus big-city corruption. It specifically analyzes the script's focus on "delusion, self-aggrandizement, and failed aspiration" as reflected in the performances of Sylvester Stallone and Ray Liotta. Key Context for Subtitle and Script Analysis

: Mangold describes the dialogue as being written in "Morse code, in dots and dashes," emphasizing a sparse but impactful delivery that defines the film's "Jersey Noir" style.

: Director James Mangold purposefully wrote the script to blend 1970s urban crime dramas with the morality of classic Westerns. Some critics noted the script has the "richness and complexity of a novel," which can lead to dense subtitling.

The best academic resource for a deep dive into the film's writing and presentation is: