Find Me Guilty - 2006

Yari Film Group Releasing, Bob Yari Productions, Syndicate Films International

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Cast:

• Jackie DiNorscio – Vin Diesel
• Nick Calabrese – Alex Rocco
• Ben Klandis – Peter Dinklage
• Sean Kierney – Linus Roache
• Judge Finestein – Ron Silver
• Bella DiNorscio – Annabella Sciorra
• Marina DiNorscio – Aleksa Palladino

Story: Based on the true story of 1986-87 trial The United States v. Anthony Accetturo et al., this film focuses on Giacomo “Jackie Dee” or “Fat Jack” DiNorscio, the convicted drug dealer and distributor for the Lucchese family. This fictionalized account (names changed to protect the innocent?) gives us a character study of probably the last “stand up” guy in the mafia. Jackie is already serving a thirty year sentence for possession with intent to distribute cocaine when he is called to the federal prosecutor's office and offered a deal: Testify against your mob associates and we will cut time off your sentence, maybe even set you up with witness protection. Jackie tells Kierney, the prosecutor, in no uncertain terms to go to hell, and the trial is on. Kierney takes in personally, having all privileges revoked from Jackie in prison, including his old beat up recliner removed from his cell, which he has due to a bad back. During the trial, we witness the treatment of DiNorscio, who has chosen to represent himself, by the feds, by the judge, and by his peers. While most of the co-defendants remain friends with Jackie, Nick Calabrese, the “Don” of the Lucchese family, is rude and abusive to Jackie, blaming him for almost every nuance of the trial that appears not to go in their favor. There are some moments of comedy when Jackie talks to the jury, but the real drama comes when this mobster confronts the witnesses against him, including his own cousin, who tried to murder him in his home.

Review: If you were expecting another action adventure film with Vinnie Diesel, guess again. This film is one where Vin has to act, and I mean act. And he does it amazingly well. The plot is well laid out and sets a logical foundation from start to finish. While a failure at the box office, this film is one of the great underground sleepers everyone who is interested in the real history of the “Mafia” in the US should see. Vin portrays “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio, probably one of the last “Stand Up” guys in the mob, unwilling to sell out his friends and family to get a reduced sentence. In the courtroom, he is a fly in the ointment, and a pain in the judge's rear end. As his own attorney, he makes procedural and other mistakes the defense attorney's are uncomfortable with. While most of the other mobsters are okay with Jackie, Alex Rocco (as Nick Calabrese, Don of the Lucchese family) is brusque, rude, and downright condescending to him, accusing him of selling out for a deal. Throughout the trial, Vinnie remains solid, and is supported by Ben Klandis (played by Peter Dinklage). Dinklage gives an amazing performance as the dwarf attorney who is surprisingly adept at presenting his case. Ron Silver is prefect as the judge, showing only as much emotion as he needs, and trying to be fair in his rulings. Linus Roache shows us the firm, determined persona we were used to when he took over for Jack McCoy in the final seasons of Law and Order, and this was not his first time working with Vin. They were previously together in The Chronicles of Riddick. Annabella Sciorra and Alexa Palladino are also excellent in their roles as Jackie's wife and daughter. And Hat's Off to the casting department for presenting us with a list of Italian names not seen since the Godfather films. I guess they felt you had to be Italian to understand what was up at the time. Rated R for language and some brief but brutal violence, this may not be a film for the family, but it is definitely one for Vin fans and anyone who likes an unpretentious legal docudrama. Collectible? Depends on your taste.