God's Pocket 2014

As Mickey Scarpato (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his wife Jeanie (Christina Hendricks), the grieving mother of the deceased Leon (Caleb Landry Jones), attend the somber funeral service, a sense of unease settles over God’s Pocket. In a poignant voiceover, journalist Richard Shelburn (Richard Jenkins) reflects on the peculiarities of this tight-knit community, where everyone knows each other’s virtues and vices - from cheaters to kid beaters, thieves, and arsonists. Yet, despite these flaws, they forgive everything except not being from God’s Pocket itself.

Three days prior, Mickey and Jeanie shared a fleeting moment of intimacy as Leon prepared for his day laborer job by taking pills. On the construction site, Leon’s toxic behavior towards Old Lucy (Arthur French), an older African-American worker, would ultimately prove fatal. As details emerge about Leon’s death, it becomes clear that Jeanie’s roots in God’s Pocket run deep, while Mickey’s outsider status creates a sense of disconnection.

Mickey, Arthur (John Turturro), and Sal (Domenick Lombardozzi) concocted a plan to steal a truckload of meat by bribing the driver. However, when tensions arise during the heist, Sal’s aggressive tactics prompt the driver to become too curious, prompting Mickey to intervene. The resulting power outage creates logistical nightmares for storing the stolen goods. Typically, Mickey would store the meat at Aunt Sophie’s flower shop, but with her location still without power after two hours, alternative solutions must be found.

Arthur reveals to Mickey that he owes Sal a significant debt, which is why he was forced to involve him in the heist. In exchange for Arthur’s help in securing the stolen goods, Mickey agrees to repay Arthur with $20,000. As fate would have it, Mickey is left scrambling to find a secure location to store the meat, ultimately deciding to keep it in his truck.

Meanwhile, back at home, Jeanie delivers the devastating news that Leon has passed away, and she refuses to accept the official account of his death as an accident. As Richard Shelburn navigates his own professional struggles, including a 42-day absence from work last year, he finds himself drawn to a young aspiring journalist and embarks on a nightcap with her at the local bar. However, his inebriated state renders him unable to perform, leaving him feeling frustrated and vulnerable.

At McKenna’s humble watering hole, Mickey receives a somber reception from the proprietor (Peter Gerety) as they discuss the untimely passing of his stepson, Leon. As condolences flow in, Mickey learns that the funeral fund is amassing a total of $1,440, which will ultimately cover the costs of the ceremony. McKenna’s words of wisdom serve as a poignant reminder of the financial burden that lies ahead.

As Mickey makes arrangements with funeral director Smiling’ Jack Moran (Eddie Marsan) for Leon’s final sendoff, he’s struck by the astronomical cost of the mahogany casket - a whopping $6,000. Jack’s unwavering commitment to providing Jeanie with the best possible farewell is a testament to his dedication and respect for the deceased. Back at their residence, Mickey’s concern about the expense is further compounded by the arrival of Jeanie’s sisters, Joyce and Joanie (Molly Price), who have come to offer their support during this difficult time.

The next morning, Jack pays an unexpected visit to Mickey and Jeanie, offering a surprise solution to their financial woes - he proposes selling the mahogany casket directly to them. With the weight of responsibility lifted from their shoulders, the couple is left to ponder the true cost of their decision.

Meanwhile, at McKenna’s bar, a lively debate erupts among the patrons regarding the recent newspaper article detailing Leon’s death. The prevailing sentiment is that there must be more to the story than the official account - which claims that Leon suffered an unfortunate accident when something fell on top of him, crushing his skull. As Richard, a journalist assigned by his editor to investigate the matter, walks into the bar, he’s warmly received by the patrons.

Mickey shares his concerns with Arthur regarding Jeanie’s growing skepticism about the official cause of Leon’s death. Arthur, sensing an opportunity for leverage, enlists Sal’s help in applying pressure to the workers at the construction site where Leon met his demise. However, their efforts are thwarted when the foreman takes matters into his own hands, leaving one of Sal’s associates with a severe eye injury.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Mickey and Arthur find themselves at an off-track betting establishment, where Mickey offers some unsolicited advice - he recommends placing a bet on Turning Leaf, a horse with an impressive track record. Arthur is less convinced, opting instead to wager everything on the #6 horse. As fate would have it, Arthur’s instincts prove correct, and Mickey suffers a significant financial loss as a result.

In the aftermath of their ill-fated bets, Richard pays a visit to Jeanie at her residence, where he’s immediately struck by her beauty. His editor’s assignment has brought him to the doorstep of this grieving family, but it seems that his true motivation lies in winning Jeanie’s heart. As they take a stroll around the picturesque lake, Richard regales Jeanie with stories of his own success and admiration in the city. His declaration of love is met with a mixture of indifference and longing from Jeanie, who sees Richard as her best hope for uncovering the truth about Leon’s death.

Despite his growing feelings for Jeanie, Richard remains committed to solving the mystery surrounding Leon’s demise. As they share a romantic evening by the lake, Jeanie’s desires are left unfulfilled, but her determination to find out what really happened to her stepson remains unwavering.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Smiling’ Jack and Mickey’s friendship reaches a boiling point over a financial dispute at the funeral home. The catalyst for their argument is Mickey’s paltry sum of $700, courtesy of Arthur, which isn’t enough to cover the expenses. The two men’s disagreement escalates into a physical confrontation, with Jack ultimately locking Mickey out of the funeral home, leaving him to face the harsh reality of Leon’s lifeless body lying outside.

Mickey’s desperation to recoup his losses leads him to pilfer meat from the deceased and attempt to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. However, the gruesome sight of Leon’s corpse in the truck proves too much for the customer, who promptly rejects the offer. Undeterred, Mickey turns his attention to selling his vehicle, but his reluctance to reveal its contents prompts him to concoct a plan.

As Mickey navigates the complex web of transactions, Sal and an accomplice pay a visit to Aunt Sophie’s flower shop in search of Arthur. However, their intentions are misconstrued by Sophie, who, sensing danger, takes matters into her own hands. With lightning-quick reflexes, she dispatches both men with deadly precision before summoning the authorities, claiming they were attempting to rob her establishment.

Meanwhile, Mickey’s financial woes continue to plague him as he tries to secure a buyer for his truck without revealing its contents. His attempts are thwarted when the potential purchaser takes the vehicle for a test drive, prompting Mickey to embark on a frantic chase through the streets. The ensuing collision spills meat and Leon’s body onto the pavement, bringing an abrupt end to Mickey’s escapades.

With his funds replenished, courtesy of the buyer’s hasty payment, Mickey is able to settle his debt with Smiling’ Jack and ensure Leon’s remains are returned to their rightful place in the morgue. As tensions ease, a patron at the local watering hole shares juicy gossip about Richard and Jeanie’s seemingly clandestine relationship.

The film then revisits its opening sequence, this time accompanied by a poignant voiceover from Richard as he disparagingly refers to his readers as “dirty faced and uneducated” in his column. Richard returns to McKenna’s bar, only to be met with hostility and disdain from the patrons, who feel his words were an affront to their dignity.

Despite his protests of solidarity, Richard is brutally beaten by a group of men, with Mickey attempting to intervene but ultimately being rebuffed by McKenna. Jeanie watches the scene unfold from her window across the street, powerless to stop the violence.

In the aftermath, Mickey travels to Florida to visit Arthur and Sophie, who are laying low in an attempt to evade the law after Sophie’s… creative solution to Sal’s unwanted visit.