skellbag Reviews

Brooklyn Rules (2007)

Pretty good movie... Read this review!

[1 June 2007]

OK, this isn't the best Brooklyn-coming-of-age-in-the-midst-of-wiseguys movie ever made, but all in all I think it was pretty good.

First off, I think all the acting was pretty good. A great turn from Jerry Ferrara, "entourage"s Turtle. One may think from watching that show that this kid was plucked off the streets of Bensonhurst (where's he's from... and I am too) to be on the show, and is a one-trick-pony, but, he gave a great, nuanced, sweet performance of a character that was nothing like his "entourage" alter ego. Kudos to him. I look forward to seeing him in more films, growing as an actor. He was likable, believable, and genuine.

Scott Cahn was excellent. He played his character, one that isn't new in mob-related films, with intensity, humor, and honesty. While his character Carmine may be bordering on a life of crime, he kept the character's heart in tact. I swear moments in this film reminded me of his dad... in a good way.

Freddie Prinze Jr, who'ds I've never seen in a "real movie", was pretty good in this too. Out of the three though, he seemed the most out of place, but, I felt he tried hard and played the role with conviction. His and Mena Suvari's (another actor who I felt didn't fit this film) romance plot line was one the movie could have done without. Upper crust girl falls for and inspires scrubby neighborhood guy to shoot for the stars. It's been done before, and it didn't need to be done again. ANyway, I think if this kid had more roles like this to beef him up, he'd become a pretty good actor. He's not BAD now... but he'd get better for sure doing character driven films like this.

Alec Baldwin, who I think is always entertaining, did a good job in this as the local neighborhood mob boss. He didn't ham it up or go over the top as he sometimes does. He did a nice understated job that suited the character. He was likable, but also had that sheen of danger about him. Good work for this kind of character.

The Brooklyn setting (basically the neighborhoods visited in this are Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Bay Ridge, and Dyker Heights) were genuine (Pastels was a nice touch... and if you're from this neighborhood, you'd agree). The backdrop plot line of the "rise of John Gotti" was a cool one to see everything eveolve around. It hasn't really been touched upon except for on those not-very-great TV movies about Gotti and Sammy "The Rat" Gravano. I thought it was a nice touch. Ss were the scenes with Bobby's family. Perfect! It had comedy, drama, believable characters, and while it may not be the greatest movie ... mob related or not... it had heart. I dug it. It's worth a view.

PS. Someone mentioned in their review that if you're gonna use The Stones in your mob movie soundtrack, you shouldn't use songs already used in other mob movies. Well, to correct them, the only Stones song in this flick is "Sympathy for the Devil"... which to my knowledge was never used in another mob movie. And anyway, Scorcsese used "Gimme Shelter" in not one but TWO of his films. I guess he should be chastised even more for ripping himself off, huh?

Raines (2007)

Finally, a clever network show!

[8/10 · 16 March 2007]

Since I've only seen one episode so far, I can't give the series as a whole a ten rating. but nevertheless, the pilot episode of this program presents a series with great potential, all based on a REALLY clever idea. I was glad that this show wasn't just another supernatural affair, a la 'The Sixth Sense' or something along those lines. Instead, it is a study of one L.A. detective's determination, and even maniac ism, to solve murder cases. The victim's "form" throughout the show as Michael Raines (played perfectly by the always-great Jeff Goldblum!) starts to piece together their personalities from evidence gathered while investigating said crimes. They're not "ghosts" or "unresting dead", but actual figments of Raines' detective mind.

There is a line in the show, a bit of dialog, that sort of describes how this came out: Raines' ex-partner (surprises to come!) reminisces about Raines' method to talk to himself during investigations... to "talk through" his cases to get to know his victims. Well he does that now, except trauma, both emotional and physical (Raines' was shot prior to the pilot episode) has him actually "seeing" the victims and he talks to himself. It's real clever, and interesting. Because it's all in the mind, anything can happen.

Anyway, give this show a shot. It's not one of these over-the-top "what ridiculous shlt is gonna happen next" kinda network show that's been on the last few years. It is written, co-created, and directed by Frank Darabont ('The Shawshank Redemption', 'The Green Mile') and all the acting is excellent. Goldblum always delivers quirky, yet still likable and believable characters, and there's always something new around every story corner. This is the kind of quality show that could be on HBO Sunday nights. GO WATCH!!!

Wannabes (2000)

Not groundbreaking, but pretty decent!

[6/10 · 26 February 2007]

I like to watch these independent films that are produced and made out of New York City and it's boroughs. You get to see a lot of familiar faces (actors that have been in almost all NY "mob" movies and the ilk, as well as even family and friends who have bit parts) AND familiar places (streets and locations familiar to me.) Occasionally something will stand out, or have real potential but fall flat (probably more as a result of being so low budget). I've known who William DeMeo is/was since his bit part in 'A Bronx Tale'. He's from my neighborhood, as well, and I know people who know him personally. I saw his first film (directed by another neighbor, Frank Adonis- who's had bit parts in everything from 'GoodFellas' to 'The Sopranos') called 'One Deadly Road', which also starred a girl I went to junior high with. See?... small world. Anyway, that movie did NOT impress me.

The story was run of the mill gangster fare, the characters and situations unbelievable, and the depiction of these kinds of people very unrealistic (to my experience anyway). Too over the top. The kind of movie that friends of mine started quoting more to make fun of it than to applaud it. Too bad.

Well, awhile back, DeMeo's new low budget feature hit a local theater by us. We never got to see it, as it ran there very shortly, but I finally got it from Netflix this week. And I gotta say, I enjoyed it! There were certain moments where I thought I knew how the story would end up, and was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong! GOOD! Though DeMeo himself was a bit stiff, very one-dimensional in his starring portrayal of the protagonist Angelo, the rest of the cast were really good! Everyone seemed pretty natural, and some were straight-up funny, intentionally! Another plus. The people you may know in the film are Joe Viterelli (sp?) ("Jelly" from 'Analyze This!') and Joseph D'onoffrio (sp?)... who played the young Tommy (Pesci's character in 'Goodfellas').

I thought this film did a better job of portraying this type of atmosphere and life than 'One Deadly Road' did. A lot better. More realistic for the most part. I really appreciated the "fallen son" aspect of the storyline as well (it rang true, though some of it was a bit out of line and kitschy... ***SPOLIER ALERT!!!!*** like Vinny killing his own father).

Anyway, like I said, it wasn't groundbreaking... at this point what mob movie can be?... but it was thoroughly enjoyable and a real surprise. It's worth a view.

DeMeo can be currently seen on 'The Sopranos', though I look forward to his next feature. Hopefully the guy'll just get better and better.

Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out (2006)

A great rockumentary!

[9/10 · 20 February 2007]

Any Police fan (or any fan of rock music, really) will greatly enjoy this first-person view into the rise of what would become one of the world's biggest rock acts. Some have even compared The Police's success and popularity to The Beatles (yowza!) Band drummer/sometime composer/founder Stewart Copeland provides an amiable account of the growth and eventual "world domination" of his band, giving us intimate, funny, and entertaining insight into how a band goes from struggling with small gigs to playing multi-continent festivals and headlining tours. All the footage was shot by Copeland throughout the years with the band, pieced together by him, and he even did some remixes of existing Police material for the film's score (along with their more familiar, and not so familiar tunes).

Being a musician and music fan in general, I am always interested in watching band documentaries, interviews, etc... and this film does not disappoint. Give it a watch. Even if you're not necessarily a big fan of The Police, you may be by the end of this movie.