"Middle-aged, three time loser, Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum) out on bail, decides to become a police informant in order to avoid his inevitable prison sentence. Manipulated by both the mob and the police, who have no intention of shortening his sentence Eddie tries desperately to save his life and avoid prison. Dillon, (Peter Boyle), a hitman hired by the mob, is ordered to kill Eddie. Dillon takes Eddie out to a hockey game, a good dinner and then takes him to a deserted field and shots him in the head. Beautifully directed by Peter Yates, The Friends of Eddie Coyle deals with a contemporary world still confined by the grim desperation, cynicism and doom which permeated the earlier film noir. Peter Boyle is outstanding as the hitman with a job to do and Robert Mitchum world-weary, but determined is memorable as Eddie. This film, with is down-beat ending and grim determinism is an excellent example of contemporary film noir."