I have to agree with the above, had to watch it, good, but not great, good to see the usual mob suspects in a film again.
I have to agree with the above, had to watch it, good, but not great, good to see the usual mob suspects in a film again.
Cheers..
Jase
I'm an hour and a half into the film.
Starting to drag a bit for me knowing I've still got 2 hours to go.
I will continue and finish it, but it may take a few more sittings.
An ok two hour film spread over 3 and a half. I doubt I’d watch it again.
I'll treat the run time like 3 episodes of Sopranos . Easily watched .
Somebody mentioned when was the last time De-niro gave a great performance and not a pastiche of himself where his on/off screen depiction is indistinguishable. I tend to have to agree with this view .
His last great film was somewhere in the 90s : A Bronx tale , The Untouchables , Heat , Casino, Sleepers.
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I'm a big fan of those involved and the genre but I thought this was poor. Too slow, predictable and the ageing didn't work for me at all in any way.
Was really looking forward to this one but in the end it was all a bit dull really. Some very good performances as you’d expect but a largely boring movie in my opinion. Also could help thinking that Joe Pesci looked like a boozed up Gazza.
Think I'll give Goodfella's and Casino a dust off.
Watched it Saturday night, after the dross of a lot of movies released recently, thought this was just great Pesci was tremendous, the rest weren’t bad
I've watched it all now and must say it was instantly forgettable. Godfather, Casino and Once Upon a Time in America have stayed with me for twenty and thirty years but I doubt I'll remember this for long at all.
The good:
- Pesci and Pacino were fabulous - rightly considered screen legends. It felt like Pesci, always the little guy, was now a 'made' guy in mob and acting personas!
- The story was told very well
- Sets and costumes were amazing
- Violence levels were just right; never tripped over into violence for the sake of violence
- All of the supporting characters and their actors were spot-on
- I admire Scorcese for attempting to cover all eras with the same actors, however....
The not so good:
- De-ageing simply wasn't good enough; not enough clear definition of eras
- De Niro. He played the same character as he always plays. The mumbling and down-turned mouth. I'm pretty sure that's just him in real life. So many times throughout the film I thought he was going through the motions and picking up his cheque. Pacino showed yet another new character, he was Jimmy Hoffa, not Al Pacino. The gulf between De Niro and Pacino was massive.
- Too long. I watched it as a three-part mini-series and it worked well but to sit through it in one go would be tough.
Overall Score:
3.5 / 5.
The Drop?
(although the 'mob' in this case are not Sicilian)
HBO's TV film - Gotti, which stars Armand Assante as the teflon don himself. It's as good as or better than most mob movies and knocks spots off of Travoltas portrayal. Good old Frank Merino or Billy Baths is in there for good measure as Robert DeBernado played by legendary mob actor Frank Vincent ( whom we can never forget as Phil Leotardo in Sopranos). William Forsythe is in there as Sammy the Bull Gravano. The film captured John's rise and fall very well.
A Bronx tale - shoe on the other foot in this one for De niro as he's the father of a boy befriended by the local made guy (Chazz Palimentri whom wrote the screenplay and show) who is trying to impress on the child after witnessing him murder someone . Joe Pesci in there for good measure. Excellent period film 50/60s and clothing.
Donnie Brasco - as mentioned for well an amazing Pacino as the passed over , 'spoke in a wheel' aged mobster. Michael Madsen also excellent.
With my current viewing of Irishman , it's lovely to watch and see but as mentioned it doesn't have that capacity for me to retain scenes or dialogue the way Goodfellas, Casino did. They flowed fluidly .
I also think Godfather 1 + 2 are the best modern (ish)mob films but NOT from the shop floor point of view , 3 is great and still beats irishman imo .
Prior to the 70s , Angels with Dirty faces , public enemy with Jimmy Cagney are excellent and Rod Steiger as Capone was simply brilliant.
Not many mentions for The Untouchables with Deniro which is also excellent.
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Just got round to watching this, I just never seem to have 3 hrs spare!!
It's too long for sure, the period sets/cars/clothes etc look good.
The anti ageing doesn't really work for me but I admire them for trying it!!!
As a film classic? I don't think so , goodfellas and casino it is most definitely not..
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Good but half an hour too long. There was a fight scene where the blows missed the recipient by a foot or so, looked very amateurish.