Change Your Image
indiefilmmaker8
Reviews
The Revenge of Al Capone (1989)
Very well made movie...
This is one of those movies that not everyone knows about. I got this movie on the swap meet a couple weeks ago and wasn't very thrilled to see it, judging it by the cover, despite being a mob movie fan myself. You know how they say, "never judge a book by its cover"? Well now I say, "never judge a MOVIE by its cover"... or title and cast. To be honest I thought this was going to be another B, low budget cheesy gangster movie... the title said it all... "CAPONE". Period... My God was I wrong. To all of you mob flick junkies, this is one movie you CANNOT miss... Before I get a lot into the movie, I will say (and a lot of you might not like it) 'CAPONE' is better than some mainstream gangster movies, like 'THe UNtouchables' for example: to me the untouchables was a HUGE failure (and excuse Mr. De Palma)for a couple of reasons...it didnt stick to reality (Nitti being thrown off a roof and landing on a car?), It glorifies law enforcement, which is a MAJOR DOWNSIDE in mob movies, given the fact that most MOB film fans always root for the bad guys, and it had Kevin Costner in it. I think that the only reason why Untouchables was a hit, was due to its cast.. DeNiro, Costner, Connery, Garcia... et., al. "CAPONE" on the other hand, does a better job portraying the mob and law enforcement, with an unknown, but very talented cast. There's good acting, good cinematography.. but the sound wasnt too good, at least on the VHS version that I own. It would've been better if Capone had been a little "fatter", thats something that I always argue... he should've been an Italian olive.
Bottom line... SEE IT. A very well made movie, with excellent acting, good action scenes and set on beautiful 1930's and late 40's.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Pure Inspiration...
Once a Time in America is the kind of movie that you have to see to believe, or see to make your own opinion and be immune to others. Definitely not your kind of movie if your idea of artistic cinema is "The Fast and the Furious" or if you think "360-degree-panning slow-mo action" is the way to go! First, there are two versions of this movie: the US theatrical release and the version Sergio Leone envisioned, being the film length and editing the main differences between the two. The version that i suggest you see, is the Director's cut, running almost 4 hours. The movie is beautiful, from beginning to end; it approaches the mob genre in a most distinct manner, being the ties between the gangsters and childhood friends the basic theme of the story. Leone explores the possibilities of story telling using a non-linear approach, going back and forth in time, from the 1920's.. to the 1960's.. and then the 40's.. as we progress in the life of 'Noodles' (DeNiro). I found this technique to be somewhat confusing at first, but then it serves its purpose as it gives a more profound and romantic touch to the film. It is beautiful, like no other gangster movies is, haunting... with Morricone's score, that stays away from his cliched 80's sounding themes, (specially that one from "The Untouchables") and profound. I'm not surprised it only made like 5 million dollars in the box office, given how butchered and mutilated this movie got in order to be shown on the big screen. Rent it or buy it.. its beautiful work of art.