The crime thriller By the Gun is a fairly mediocre and stereotypical film that relies mostly on clichés and stereotypes. When small-time mafia henchman Nick Tortano gets made his loyalty is soon tested; forcing him to choose between his blood family and his new mafia family. Starring Ben Barnes, Leighton Meester, Toby Jones, and Harvey Keitel, the casting is pretty good. But the characters are underdeveloped and don’t have much depth to them. And, the plot is very straightforward and predictable. Following all of the usual tropes of mob film, By the Gun is rather bland and uninspired.