1,000 Times More Brutal (II) (2012) User Reviews

The details matter

[MickyFin · 5/10 · 3 September 2012]

OK, great concept of a film, no denying that, but even with the occasional good actors thrown in, there are small details that ruin it in my personal opinion.

Lets take the moment at around 21 minutes into the film...

Massive guy struggles to light his cigar...

Have the film crew never heard of cigar cutters?

Prior to that, the mob would not even entertain meeting a nobody in public, period, not to mention have the patients of a saint to listen to so called nobody. They always want proof of tale, not to mention proof of who is talking to that, a pat down is not enough to tell if someone is wired for example.

Im halfway through the film as I write this, so will add more as and when I can. If you want that is?

1000 Times More Brutal

[dukeakasmudge · 5/10 · 7 June 2017]

I already wanted to see 1000 Times More Brutal before I found out the ex member of The Jerky Boys Kamal Ahmed wrote & directed it but after I found out, it made me want to see it even more.The movie starts out r....e....a....l slow but after 30+ minutes in, things start to get interesting & it was good from then on.It's definitely worth waiting around for.I think my favorite thing about the movie was not just the bits of humor here & there but that it wasn't a BIG Hollywood production.If it was, it wouldn't have been as good.The characters felt real like you actually might run into them on the street even though you wouldn't want to.The movie wasn't full of well manicured lawns, shiny brand new cars, HUGE houses out of something on Extreme Home Makeover or any of that typical Hollywood garbage that they like to put into each & every movie they make.If you like Mafia/Crime movies then I think you might like 1000 Times More Brutal (Why not give it a shot?) Kamal Ahmed picked out the perfect title for this movie because not only was the beginning brutal but the ending was as well.It comes out of nowhere & then, BAM!!! If you're looking for a typical Hollywood Mafia movie, forget about it.This movie is NOT the 1

Brutally bad

[LOL101LOL · 1/10 · 3 September 2017]

(This review was deleted by IMDb based on an abuse report filed by another user) Come on people what is going on? so many real bad films, 2012 is really going down as the year for really really bad B grade crappy films, and this one is up there with the worst, or should that be the best of the worst? The acting is as wooden as a stick, and I am convinced their was no director on set! The script tries way to hard with lots of profanity, a clear sign of a low quality production. It does star two know faces we have seen before on the big screen, and they clearly stand out as the real actors, the rest are very forgettable.

I love a good gangster film, but this ain't one of them, it is just another poor attempt to get your money.

Don't watch this, as life is just to short, 1 out of 10!

UPDATE!!! as per IMDb stats 25 out of 55 voters gave this film a 10! what does that tell you? it rates higher then The Godfather, rates higher then Goodfellas, get my drift, they are scammers or worked on this film! VOTE THIS CRAP DOWN PEOPLE, that way we might stamp this crap out!

Good people, too many stereotypes!

[c-colucci · 1/10 · 4 May 2019]

Typical stereotypes of Bensonhurst! I've seen it over and over again. Write something new.

Worth Seeing

[Crystal-160 · 7/10 · 28 November 2014]

I only decided to see/watch this film because of Peter Greene, and I was not disappointed. For a low-budget indie, it was pretty enjoyable. The entire cast was good, and except for maybe a small scene here and there, this effort deserves some applause.

It has me thinking what a shame so many big budget movies are actually far less engaging than this was. However, I will say that perhaps this type of story/script/cast are more geared toward an East coast audience. Being from NY, I think it's one of the reasons that I was able to enjoy it. We know people like this in real life so while of course the circumstances for the characters got really ugly (not seen in real life) it was like a few guys you know about the block, that this would be entirely possible.

Much better than I could have ever imagined

[RedDragonStu · 8/10 · 11 September 2012]

After reading the storyline it sounded like a good idea for a movie but I have to admit, I was somewhat put off by it's rather low score. But, on reading the reviews people had taken the time to post, I came to the conclusion I would give this film a go. Well am I ever glad I did. I love mobster style movies and this one is very good at what it does. Obviously low budget, but don't let that distract you from what is a well written and mostly well acted movie. The lead actor does especially well and should go on to bigger if not better things. Yes there are a few faces you will recognise, but for most it, the actors you don't know do a very good job. It was not the most original of movies but, then again, what movies these days are original. I also felt that it could have been maybe another 15mins in length to show a few more details about the main characters person life. But, all in all I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to anyone who cares more about a films plot than it's budget, especially if they enjoy gangster style movies.

Great story, plot and gritty gangster movie

[rmrb720 · 7/10 · 1 September 2012]

This is an indie movie so don't expect some slick Hollywood film. That being said, the grittiness adds to believability of the film. It has a strong plot, sets the mood well and if you are a fan of gangster films, this is closer to reality than any Hollywood film. I'm Italian-American from NY and the characters were believable and recognizable. The director did a good job showing us a slice a life. Some of the actors were better than others ( I thought the lead role needed a stronger actor) and there were parts that could have moved along a little faster but overall the film was fun and I'd like to see more from the film-maker.

About an hour too long.

[FiveHundredFlicks · 6/10 · 5 May 2013]

It's a good story, well told with some great scenes but, man, could it use some editing.

There are about half a dozen largely irrelevant scenes and about a dozen more which are spun out way too long.

Some tight editing would get this down from 'directors cut+' length to watchable without looking at your watch length.

One thing, however, is the sound track. Get that wrong and you're stuffed and they got it wrong more often than not. Unforgivable.

There are some great shots, some great soundtracks but, Madonne, don't they go on. And on and then on some more.

Like with the swearing. I get that they are baddies and baddies swear a lot but it's every other word and sometimes three or more in a row for no apparent reason other than to show how tough they are.

In real life? Some of the toughest people I know, seriously tough people, hate swearing. Loud-mouths swear.

Ripe for a remake with a bigger budget but hats off to those involved for making it this far.

Gritty but true

[Chrisl-467-10508 · 8/10 · 3 September 2012]

I enjoyed the film very much! I grew up in a similar neighborhood and appreciated the indie style and grittiness of the story as it added real value. If you read thru the previous comments there are pro's and con's to every story however, this story grabs you and keeps you going thru the tale as it unfolds with a few surprises as well. I was entertained and interested to see where it was going with out figuring out the ending half way thru, which is a plus these days in traditional Hollywood films. The film maker gets my vote, the actors were believable some more than others and there are a few situations in the film that only people who have lived them would only understand which gives it an authentic appeal. It's worth a few hours of your investment for this story to be told !

8 gross defects in the script

[vladtravel · 6/10 · 12 September 2012]

Suspense and good acting are there, but there are at least 8 gross defects in the script:

1) Very unlikely that the 4 gangsters would continue blocking the way after hearing the repeated horn from behind - they wouldn't want to attract attention (even less - to have to talk to cops which the people in the car behind could have called).

2) OK, they are dumb enough to get out of the car wanting to talk to the honking guys - but why launch into a fight immediately? First of all, it was necessary to find out who was honking - may be they were somebody not to mess with (for example, they could be from another/stronger gang or/and could have guns).

3) It is not clear how Carlo/Greene made the connection between the robbery and the 4 main characters (the blood-stained $100 bill alone is not enough; a link is missing here).

4) Regarding the bookmaking office - handling big amounts of cash does require some security measures, but not a single person there was armed, and there was not even a peephole in the door.

5) How could anyone be so majestically stupid to go downstairs into that Albanian cellar? During the film, the guys, although not particularly bright, did not look completely brainless, they could have guessed that it made no sense to go downstairs - the Albanians could just bring the bag with cash.

6) Were the Albanians so crazy to think they could get away with murdering representatives of a gang strong enough to extort money from them? Within hours, that bar would probably be burned down, and half of those present would be dead (or worse).

7) Why did they have to kidnap the 1st guy (of the 4 main characters) in a hotel? How to carry him then? Risks of getting filmed by surveillance cameras or bumping into security guys. Stopping his car somewhere in a quiet street would do just fine.

8) During a robbery, when 3 armed and nervous robbers are waving their guns at you, shouting at you to lie down - what does a normal person do? Of course comply immediately. But the personnel of the bookmaking office (every single one of them) were just standing there, waiting to be told the same thing 5 or 6 times (like it was a sudden mass madness).

Comments on the foregoing points are welcome.

The real crime was lack of Peter Greene

[tjdon-55576 · 6/10 · 19 September 2023]

It was a decent B grade movie, good enough to watch for sure. Their were some corny moments and less than great acting, but hey it's B-grade. The real issue is it's all just the protagonist the whole time really, they really wasted a perfect opportunity to develop a viillian. Peter Greene is the strongest performer in this film, and great at playing a villain. Yet he got almost no screen time, basically just one scene at the end with some lines. Unless they couldn't afford to pay Greene for more scenes or something they really wasted a villain. A lot of people gave this movie a 10/10 I'd have to imagine most of those are fake, it's a decent movie but no way it gets a 10/10.

Awesome mob movie!

[dannynsk · 10/10 · 1 September 2012]

I am a huge Mob movie buff and I gotta say this movie is one of the best mob flicks I have seen it years.

It revolves around a group of friends that get beat up by a low level bookie. They decided to rob the bookie (Played by Peter Greene from Pulp Fiction and The Black Donnellys) and wind up with much more money than they ever thought from the heist.

Peter Greene comes back for his revenge alright, in the most Brutal way imaginable. The film carries a much more believable theme than the typical glitz and glamor you see in every day mob movie. It's much more realistic and a great portrayal of a few kids making one big mistake. All the way to even the main character Antonio's chubby in the kitchen about to cook a rabbit mom!

While watching the film, the group of friends reminded me of a more serious set of friends than the fellas from Entourage, but the camaraderie had a similar theme. The acting of the lead guy Antonio was a real good surprise.

The film has some cool people too. I mentioned Peter Greene who absolutely rules, and after this I have been on a Peter Greene movie kick. But it also stars Kevin Corrigan who I think is hilarious. He is the guy from Superbad who flips out about the period stain. You got Furio and Carlo from The Sopranos - both great characters from the show and both great in this movie.

Plus a few new guys that ruled like Angelo Bonsignore Jeremy Luke (Who I just saw in that Jersey Shore Shark Attack and has these videos on You Tube with a buddy called Turbo and Joey).

All in all this is a superb movie - It's gonna be one of those flicks that in a few years your friends are gonna say, "I saw that in the theater!"

Artie Lange was bragging about it on his new radio show and the guy is right, it rules.

Surprisingly decent.

[jtesta1982 · 6/10 · 28 January 2021]

As far as mafia B movies. This held its own. I watched it randomly at 5 am when I couldn't sleep. It had a decent plot and typical mafia style action. Not bad at all if you are into the genre. There are a lot of good movies on Amazon with Sopranos cast members

Anybody who gives this a low rating has never seen the film

[torquaygeezer · 8/10 · 3 September 2012]

Do you know I started to watch this film and I didn't really know who the actors were, you could tell there wasn't a huge budget making this but that didn't seem to matter as the story line progressed. Fantastic realism, of people getting out of their depth you felt like you were one of the boys, the director Kamal certainly new what he was doing. I could actually feel the tension in the room when one of the guys was waiting at a bar for some money and didn't trust the people there. I was seriously on the edge of my seat watching this because you just had no idea what was going to happen next. It's a great script and great acting I can't recommend this movie enough, you have to go and see it. Iv seen this movie 3 times now and it just gets better the more I watch. This is going in my top 20 Gangster movies of all time.

Intense

[msbulla · 10/10 · 3 September 2012]

If you are looking for an intense movie, watch or better yet buy Brutal. This is not a movie you are going to watch once. I have watched it several times and I only got the movie last week. I bought it online because it was "sold out" everywhere around me. I enjoy watching indie films but this one is at the top of my list. I was searching the internet for unique mob films and Brutal was one of many. The trailer caught my eye right off the bat. I waited anxiously for the release date. When it was announced, I jumped on ordering it and I am glad. I had some friends over to watch it and they were equally impressed with the intense action/suspense scenes. The narrating was a great addition and made this film different from other "Mob" movies. Then, how the camera pans angles and popular place only a typical New Yorker would know was great.

BRUTAL is a Great Indie Gangster Film

[ilpadrinoilpadrino · 10/10 · 8 September 2012]

The writing, dialogue, and acting in "Brutal" were all very good. It's very realistic. Kamal Ahmed has a real talent and a feel for what we might call this particular "element" of the Italian-American (sub)culture, and especially the East coast (NY/NJ) variety. The film does not seem "low-budget". Besides that there is humor involved as well, similar to in a lot of Sopranos episodes for example when you would find yourself laughing even though the genre itself is of course not comedic. Plenty of action and even some blood and guts (well how else could it bear the name "Brutal" without any?).

Particularly noteworthy to me were the performances by David Dastmalchian, Arthur Nascarella (played Carlo on The Sopranos), and Mark Love, but there are certainly good points to be found in all the different performances. As an Italian-American myself I could relate to a lot of it, and particularly enjoyed Antonio/Anthony's mom for example, for a little comedy relief. Peter Greene (of Pulp Fiction) is duly menacing as a street-level Mob associate more or less directly connected to the heart of the plot.

If you're a fan of gritty gangster type films in general, give Brutal a try at your local video store, or pick up a copy to keep; you won't regret it.

Loved the Flashbacks

[joeherohero68 · 10/10 · 3 September 2012]

Great idea to tell the story thru the use of flashbacks. It added to the intensity. Several times I clutched my seat because of how intense it was. There were some surprises that came out of left field. That made the movie different than traditional Mob movies. It was a completely unique plot. I don't know how else to describe it. I know I ordered it ASAP from Amazon and they were selling out fast. There was only 1 copy left when I ordered it over a week ago. I was happy when the movie was in my mailbox 2 days later. I heard about this movie from a friend and he hadn't seen it yet either. We both were glued to our chairs. I usually pause a movie at home to run out for a cigarette, I didn't do it with Brutal!

Brutal is Better

[lucamatassa · 8/10 · 3 September 2012]

Brutal beats down, without mercy, any mob movie preconceptions you might have. Right from the start you get pulled into the story and you can't help but feel yourself wondering, what's my next move? What would i do in this situation? But then, the story keeps moving along and you are in another situation altogether. I also found this movie original very entertaining with great acting by all, especially the part played by the ex-Soprano tough guy. The dialog and interplay between the main characters was very genuine and real. These guys go from good buddies to good fellas and back with many twists and turns. It does not get much better than Brutal. I highly recommend this movie.

1000 times more excellent!

[mrbreakjaw · 10/10 · 1 September 2012]

I went into this movie unsure what to expect, thinking perhaps it might be a mob comedy. While it does have many funny moments, it actually is a movie in the same vein as my favorite period and genre, the gritty '70's flicks like "Serpico" and "The French Connection". It's VERY well-directed and the acting is top-notch, especially the lead actor and his cohorts in the heist. Peter Green is very menacing as well. I guarantee if you give this movie a chance, it will keep you entertained. The plot twists and turns are all believable and surprising, as well as shocking, right up until the end. That first reviewer must've been huffing paint thinner right before they wrote their deluded review!

Oscar for Peter Greene!

[xmachinex2 · 8/10 · 2 September 2012]

Let me start by saying since I saw LAWS OF GRAVITY I've been a huge fan of Peter Greene. Just about every role he plays he brings a realism that could stand with any of the great actors post 1970's. His role as Carlo Morello in 1000 TIMES MORE BRUTAL is clearly his best ever. The movie starts in a fast paced frenzy and works its way to one of the best mob movies since A BRONX TALE and DONNIE BRASCO as four friends pay the price for getting even with a low level gangster played by Greene. The film has a gritty feel,brought on by hand-held cameras,older New York locations and excellent casting using real characters from the streets of Brooklyn mixed with unknown actors David DASTMALCIAN,JERERMY Luke,ANGELO BONSIGNORE and MARK LOVE. Director Kamal Ahmed managed to wrangle veteran NY actors FEDERICO CASTTELUCCIO,KEVIN CORRIGAN and ARTHUR NASCARELLA to round out the cast. But the real star is Peter Greene,whose almost cinema verite performance actually frightened me (his appearance actually scared me just as much)when he gives an Oscar worthy monologue towards the end which pretty much capped off the movie. I don't know what the budget was,but it seemed bare. Unfortunate,because if more juice were backing this movie,Peter Greene would be a shoe in for Oscar nod. I say this because William Hurt had a similar monologue in A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and it pales in comparison to Greene's.

Brutal Review

[tbickle84 · 8/10 · 3 September 2012]

Just watched this film at a friend's house last night and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was!

The plot concerns a group of friends from Brooklyn who disrespect a crime boss named Carlo (superbly portrayed by Peter Green) one night. As a result, they're beaten within an inch of their lives and left bleeding in the street.

Eager to retaliate, the four friends hold up Carlo's bookmaking operation and make off with almost 100k. BIG MISTAKE! The friends quickly realize they're in way over their head once Carlo decides to exact revenge.

Brutal is a dark, gritty, no nonsense crime film in the same vein as Pusher. If movies like that are up your alley, I highly recommend this one.

Real Deal...

[guitarno · 10/10 · 1 September 2012]

Well, I just saw 1000 times more Brutal...and I have nothing but positive things to say about this film. It's easily the most powerful film I've seen in many years. I have never seen a film portray the real life New York attitude as well as this film has. It also made me feel like I was there, witnessing the brutality. It's also a film that's not afraid to show the ugly side of being in a mob.Kamal Ahmed definitely got his point across.Quite simply the best mob movie I've seen since Casino,and I hope it will get nominated (and win) many awards.it's a true winner in my eyes. Nice to see that you don't have to have a Hollywood budget in order to make a Great film........1000 Times More Brutal,a must see movie!!!

To Be Brutally Honest- I Loved It

[nyswiss1 · 10/10 · 2 September 2012]

This is a good story, which I could identify with growing up in NYC. The characters had depth and were woven together well in the storyline. There is realistic dialog, gritty action, some really great scenes and intense anticipation of "what happens next". Kamal does not disappoint in this film...a creative must see! The story works on multiple levels, both informative as we get exposed to the gangster world and also engagingly as we watch the rise of childhood friends from nothing to great heights only to lose it all again ending in brutal revenge. Revenge is undeniably "1000 Times More Brutal," and can stand in the midst of similar mobster films like Goodfellas. We do leave feeling as though we've known these characters for years and feel their tragic end. , "1000 Times More Brutal" delivers a realistic look into the brutality of mob scene , the cast gives strong performances and packed with loads of fast-paced action and anticipation that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats .

Great Movie!!

[mami7829 · 10/10 · 16 January 2012]

Great movie!!! I can't say enough about this movie. The actors in this movie were awesome!! The make up I mean.... forget about it!!! Great job guys!!!! This is a must see!!!!! All the emotion that they gave in this and all there hard work so paid off. The action in this film was really good. It made me jump a little bit! I found myself knowing some of the characters from people I knew growing up in Brooklyn. Again this is a must see! Angelo did a great job in this movie. It's amazing how he loves what he does. Anthony Aveni was really good here. Kamal did a great job directing this movie.Definitely a must see gangster movie.I would definitely see this movie over and over and over again! I would put it in my movie collection!

a very good movie

[dfalatosteves · 8/10 · 25 September 2012]

Just watched Kamal Ahmed's 1000 Times More Brutal and must say how real I thought it was despite some questions I had until I gave it a little more thought. The film starts in a nightmarish film noir style where the lead (David Dastmalchian) runs towards the camera under the sound of a heart beating. He says "There's nothing in this world more personal than murder." This opening surprised me because I thought it was different than the normal low budget gangster film. Without giving too much away,one of the questions I had was why would the three protagonists go downstairs to a certain death awaiting them at a Albanian bar. My answer was,they weren't too smart and proved it throughout the film. The Albanian mobster they met,was magnificently played by former Soprano star Fedrico Castelluchio and did such a dead on Albanian accent,my Albanian girlfriend swore he was Albanian (I checked, he's 100% Italian) My next question was,how did the lead actor shoot his antagonist at a illegal gangster poker game,downstairs in the bowels of some broken down building? Well,a friend reminded me the antagonist (Peter Greene) was only an associate of the mob and not John Gotti,so he wouldn't have bodyguards and anyone there,would be looking out for their own safety. My friend also reminded me illegal poker games like that get robbed all the time,so it's somewhat believable. All in all,there's plenty of gritty scenes and realistic views of that NYC gangster lifestyle in 1000 TIMES MORE BRUTAL that don't romance or glorify it. I found it an interesting movie.