Staten Island (original title) - 2009

Staten Island (original title) – 2009 aka Little New York

Europa Corp., Open City Films, Why Not Productions

Directed by James DeMonaco

Cast:

• 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.

Kill the Irishman - 2011

Anchor Bay Films, Code Entertainment, Dundee Entertainment

Directed by Jonathon Hensleigh

Cast:

• Danny Greene – Ray Stevenson
• John Nardi – Vincent D'Onofrio
• Joe Manditski – Val Kilmer
• Shondor Birns – Christopher Walken
• Joan Madigan – Linda Cardellini
• Ray Ferritto – Robert Davi
• Grace O'Keefe – Fionnula Flanagan
• Tony Salerno – Paul Sorvino
• Jack Licavoli – Tony Lo Bianco
• Jerry Merke – Bob Gunton
• Leo 'Lips' Moceri – Mike Starr

Story: Based on the true story of the Irishman who dared to defy the Mob in Cleveland in the 1970's. Danny Greene was a true Celtic warrior, or so the story goes. He's involved in the unions on the docks, unloading freight containers, when a few people encourage him to run for union president. When he helps out a friend who has run up a gambling debt with the local mob, he becomes involved in a spiral into the world of organized crime. He becomes the union president, and is involved in a number of enterprises, including organizing the local garbage men. A local reporter snoops around and discovers some of his dealings, which leads to his arrest and conviction. But Danny is still a force to be reckoned with, and he soon returns to the criminal life as a collection agent for a loan shark, Shondor Birns. When Birns eventually puts a contract out on Danny, he sets into motion a murder spree that accounts for more than 30 explosions and killings in the underworld, and a syndicate story that shocked the nation.

Review: Great cast, great acting, and an absolute must-see for mafia-philes. Ray Stevenson and Linda Cardellini give exceptional performances as Danny and Joan Greene in this hard hitting story based on his life. Unlike many bio-dramas, this one moves along at a rocket pace, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. D'Onofrio is exceptional in this role, as is Christopher Walken, and you have to wonder how Stevenson keeps up with such powerful performers, but he does. Lots of favorite character actors dress up this larger than life scenario, including the lovely and always enticing Fionnula Flanagan as the neighbor, Mike Starr as one of Tony Lo Biano's enforcers, and Bob Gunton as the Union President who can't stand on his own. Paul Sorvino gives us the perfect NYC mob boss image and, while his role is brief, it's a performance worth watching. Val Kilmer's role as the police officer who grew up with Greene is subdued, but he carries it off with the right tone and balance to the film. Since a great film always comes down to the director, we have to give Jonathon Hensleigh a resounding round of applause for this fascinating and entertaining portrait of the underworkings of the mob. Rated R for violence, language and sexual situations, if you like films like the Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino, etc, you are going to love this one. And if you are a fan of those, this needs to be added to your collection.