A BRONX TALE (1993)
Featuring: Robert De Niro; Chazz Palminteri; Francis Capra; Lillo Brancato
Director: Robert De Niro
Well known film director Martin Scorsese and acclaimed screen actor Robert De Niro often collaborated during their respective careers by making quite a number of films together. Some of these include cult classics like Taxi Driver (1976); Raging Bull (1980); Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). A Bronx Tale, however, was Robert De Niro's first attempt at directing. And what an attempt it turned out to be, even though it did not obtain the box office success it deserved!
Based on the stage play by Chazz Palminteri, who also adapted and wrote the script for the movie, it tells the story of Calogero Anello, a young American boy of Sicilian descent, growing up on the streets of the Bronx neighborhood of New York during the 1970's. Torn between his love for his working stiff father, Lorenzo (also portrayed by Robert Di Nero) and his admiration for his local gangster kingpin, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri, in a terrific performance) he must learn to find the correct path in life that will, in the end, be the right one for him to follow.
This poignant coming-of-age film is simply great on so many levels. From the excellent acting all round, to the authentic settings, to the time period mo-town music score. But it is especially the two young actors (Francis Capra as the younger Calogero and Lillo Brancato as the later teen version of the boy) that really stands out. Therefore, kudos to Mr De Niro for a fantastic first directing attempt. This makes it yet one more of those movies that simply must form part of any serious DVD collection.
I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
Trailer link:
The famous line-up scene with Fancis Capra (front, second from left), Robert De Niro (behind, next to Francis) and Chazz Palminteri (at the end of the row on the right)
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