In the gritty crime drama By the Gun, directed by James Mottern, a young and ambitious Italian-American man named Nick (played by Ben Barnes) finds himself torn between the promise of a legitimate future and the seductive pull of organized crime in Boston. Nick is a loyal son and a devoted boyfriend to the pragmatic Ali (Leighton Meester), who urges him to stay on the straight and narrow. However, his desire for respect and a quick ascent leads him to seek the mentorship of a powerful mob boss, Sal (Harvey Keitel), and his ruthless enforcer, Frankie (Slaine). As Nick is drawn deeper into a world of violence, loyalty tests, and dangerous alliances, his relationships with his family and Ali become strained. The film masterfully captures the tense atmosphere of a man walking a tightrope between two lives, exploring the heavy cost of ambition and the blurred lines between honor and crime. With a compelling performance from Toby Jones as Nick’s conflicted father, this 105-minute drama offers a raw and unflinching look at the choices that define a man’s fate.