An old school film noir that conjures up memories of Hitchcock and Preminger, Cruel Hearts harkens back to a Hollywood based on characters and intricate plotting. Guy discovers the woman he has been sleeping with is not only married, but married to a low-level crime boss. Convinced they’ll be discovered, he seeks out the notorious criminal and offers himself up for punishment and forgiveness. Instead, the relationship the two men forge becomes an unusual and ultimately dangerous friendship. Told from three points of view, Osborne’s film examines loyalty, power, betrayal, and the many ways love can kill you. -BF