The first trailer for Ben Affleck's latest directorial effort, "Live By Night," is finally here, featuring the actor-director as a 1920s gangster struggling to come to terms with his life of crime.

The film, based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name, follows Joe Coughlin (Affleck), the son of Boston's police superintendent, who decides to turn to organized crime instead of following in his straight-laced father's footsteps. But when he crosses a local mob boss, he's exiled from Boston, and ultimately lands in Tampa, Florida, where he becomes embroiled in a risky rum-running venture.

Though he's only helmed three previous films -- "Gone Baby Gone" (also based on a Lehane novel), "The Town," and Best Picture winner "Argo" -- Affleck has already established a signature directorial style that's all over the "Live By Night" trailer. The sumptuous cinematography is tinged with an underlying darkness, underscoring the film's sinister themes and Coughlin's conflict over his chosen path. Every slo-mo shot and zoomed-in close-up -- that drop of blood sinking into a glass is a particularly nice touch -- highlights the significance of Coughlin's actions.

"What you put out into this world will always come back to you," one character tells Coughlin. "But it never comes back how you predict."

"Live By Night" also stars Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Messina, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, and Chris Cooper. It was originally set to hit theaters in October, but is now slated for release on January 13, 2017.

Photo credit: YouTube/Warner Bros. UK