Staten Island (original title) – 2009 aka Little New York
Europa Corp., Open City Films, Why Not Productions
Directed by James DeMonaco
- Parmie Tarzo – Vincent D'Onofrio
- Sully Halverson – Ethan Hawke
- Jasper Sabiano – Seymour Cassel
- Mary Halverson – Julianne Nicholson
Story: A mob story in three vignettes, all centering on three people who live and work on Staten Island. Parmie Tarzo is a minor league mob boss who has ambitions, but his crew doesn't agree with him, so they pay off a Russian hitman to kill him. It doesn't work out, but the experience has left Parmie with an altered view of his own identity. He isolates himself in a treehouse to help protect and endangered forest area. Meanwhile, Sully Halverson is married to the love of his life and they want to have a baby, but Mary is having some problems getting pregnant. While they are at the fertility clinic, Sully sees a video about genetic alterations to create genius babies. He wants to do this for his child, but he doesn't have the $50,000.00 he needs, so he and two friends decide to rob a mafia type for the money...Parmie Tarzo. Jaspaer Sabiano is the deaf mute meat cutter in a little Italian deli on Staten Island, and he is friends with Sully, who is discovered as one of the three thieves who stole from Parmie. When the stories all conclude, we discover why we have watched them, and how their lives intersect.
Review: This is delightful comedy where the mobsters all get their just desserts, but only after a series of really dumb moves by all concerned. Vincent D'Onofrio, who for years has played the role of Detective Goran in Law and Order: Criminal Intent, shows us his ability to completely change persona and delve into the mind of a small time hood with delusions of grandeur. Ethan Hawke delivers an excellent performance as the guy who cleans septic tanks for a living and wants a better life for his kid. Julianne Nicholson, who was also on Criminal Intent for a season across from Chris Noth, shows us an interesting character as Hawke's wife. And Seymour Cassel is excellent as the deaf mute counterman who secretly assists the mob in some of their more nefarious endeavors. The film is shot with the three perspectives merging into one, so the entire plot comes together in a very cohesive manner. One of the better indies I have seen. Be forewarned it is a Russian Comedy, which is to say everyone dies, but they all die happy....well, not everyone. Rated R for violence and language, I highly recommend this one as a great rental. Collectible? Not particularly, but definitely a must see.
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