A Bronx Tale

I watched this great film recently for the first time. For those who don't know, it was released in 1993 and marked the directing debut of the amazing Robert DeNiro, who stars in it as well with Chazz Palmintieri, who wrote the story and screenplay. Both men were at the top of their form and pulled off a vivid depiction of Bronx life circa 1960-1968. The film had a very nostalgic feel and classic oldies soundtrack. DeNiro is great as the principled father and Palmintieri is equally great as the principled mob boss who mentors his son. Many fascinating scenes and a sweet interracial romantic-interest sub-plot. The film was altogether highly enjoyable, I'd say it's gotta lotta heart. Don Rico says check it out.

[ July 18, 2001: Message edited by: Don Rico ]

I saw that film a while ago and it really was a very well made film and is underrated. The acting is great and it is a very portrays the life in a very dramatic way.

"A Bronx Tale" is undoubtedly one of the best "mob" movies ever made. I relate to it very closely (being almost the same age as "C" (10 years old in 1961, when Mickey Mantle cried after Bill Mazeroski's Series' winning home run). The scenes of the basement crap games, and the wiseguys hanging out on the street reminded me vividly of my Dad's pals, and some of it (the firebombing scene) was filmed in my neighborhood.

Aside from the personal "tie" it is simply one hell of a great movie (semi-autobiographical for Palminteri).

If you haven't seen it, it's a MUST see!!

I thought that Palminteri was very good but i didnt realise that he wrote it. Is he the one that De Niro's character in Analyse this has trouble with?

Angel -

He's (Palminteri) the same one!

While on the subject of Palminteri, you might also want to check out "The Usual Suspects". It's a little "different", but it's full of twists, and it's a great mystery! Palminteri plays a detective, tracking down one of the most intriquing characters you'll EVER come across (Keyser Soze).

A Bronx Tale is a classic movie.

While I can't say I remember A Bronx Tale (I saw it four years ago), I can't forget the Usual Suspects. I mean, Jesus, the movie is just fascinating.

I could never tell though if the story (regarding Kaiser Soze) Spacey tells the detective was true (i.e. if it really happend to Kaiser) or not.

In the last 30 years, or so, there have been three fictional characters that have truly amazed me....One was Lord Toranaga from "Shogun", one was Vito Corleone, and the last was Kaiser Soze (from "The Usual Suspects").

Without giving away any of the storyline, Soze was the most intense, because of what he was willing to give up in order to achieve his goals.

bronx tale is a good film. with a good cast and soundtrack

I'm curious, De Niro; what made you reply to a thread that has been dormant for over 3 years?

sorry didn't releise till i posted it

A Bronx Tale is one of the best movie's I have ever seen, I also love the Doo-Wop sound track, it was also cool seeing Robert De Niro in a Non Mob roll

I agree, one of those films i never tire of watching and i like the Father and Son relationship..

i recently saw chazz do ''a bronx tale'' as a one man off broadway play. the only props was the corner of belmont av with the bar and front stoop of the building. chazz did a great job going back in forth between all the characters. made for a great evening with the wife. dinner first at Casabellas on Mulberry then uptown to the show

CasaBella has quite a history. Not so long ago it was owned by Mike Sabella, a Bonanno Family capo.

yes as are a few other resturants down there. Joe Butch Corrao owns or i should say his son Vinnie Butch owns them since Joe 's passing Taorominas and cafe Biondo. there are some more i can't think of now. i think the only social club down on Mulberry that is active is The Hawian Moonlighters which also has been owned by the Corraos goin back to the 30's

"Now youse can't leave." Great line.

Also, the soundtrack of "Knights in White Satin" during a violent fight scene is perversely hilarious.

The ending of that movie is so ironic now. "C" comes to realize what Lorenzo had been telling all along - about wasted talent. In real life, Lilo Brancato (who played "C") will be facing sentencing to prison at the end of this month.

Wasted talent.

Talent is a gift and a curse. Balance is using your talent and chanelling all your positive and negative energy into useful, productive and helpful outlets with everything you do. The reason you do this, doesn't matter.

A Bronx Tale is a great movie.

I am a little surprised that everybody likes this movie so much. In my opinion it was too predictable, too cliché(the racism aspect) and the dialogues weren't as funny as those in Casino, Goodfellas, Scarface, ...
If I would rate "A Bronx Tale" I would give it a 6,5/10.

Well, it's probably more popular amongst the New Yorkers here. Having grown up in the exact neighborhood where it took place, I'm kind of partial to it. But even if I didn't grow up in the Bronx, I think I'd like it just as much.

I dont know why but i'd rather watch Bronx Tale over Casino even though i think Casino is a better film.

Does that sound weird..

Not at all, DeNiro. I feel the EXACT same way about a lot of films.

For this purpose, I'll use Scorsese as an example. Although GOODFELLAS is a richer and more detailed experience, and probably a better film, I prefer MEAN STREETS by a narrow margin. It hit closer to home for me, with the whole film taking place in the same neighborhood (NY's Little Italy).

Also, MEAN STREETS was the first film that I can remember (I was 14 in 1973), where the soundtrack was as important as any of the characters.

Yeah, it's not as slick or quotable as GoodFellas or Casino. But it's got some charm to it. It's a different kind of movie than a Scorcese film.

I just saw this finally in the weekend for the first time and quickly realised it was Lilo Brancato (Matthew Bevilacqua).
Thought he was really good in this. Shame he got caught up in the trouble he has. 10 years in the bighouse is really going to hold up his career.
Seems a bit steep for burglary charges, I know there was an off duty cop killed but if he got off that, then why give him so long for burglary?

IMO, one of the best underrated mob films to date. The scene where Sonny starts sticking guys in the bathroom during the craps game is priceless. Two thumbs up!

Sonny bar scene is the best from the film..

"Now youse can't leave."

De Niro, I stand corrected. You are absolutely right!

That is definitely the most memorable scene. I remember watching this movie based on a recommendation from an idiot roomate at the time. We had nothing in common at all, especially movies (he thought Walking Tall starring the Rock was the greatest movie ever made, not joking). But he had the DVD and put it on one night and I was pleasantly surprised!

Chaz has his one man play of "The Bronx Tale" playing in Baltimore now. I was gonna see about getting a ticket, but seeing the commercials for it, it's mainly him just talking about the movie. If you have seats, then it's just like looking at an ant with 3 fingers.

Why does Sonny drive his car backwards in the movie?

Because he could i suppose..

He's cool and he knows it. He owns the neighborhood, and is just showing off I guess. If you don't like the way he drives, get off the sidewalk.

A Bronx Tale, in my opinion, is a great film that replays the life of a kid growing up in the Bronx and having to deal with the struggles of friendship, father figures(both good and bad), and ethnic issues with his girlfriend. I enjoyed both the film and the soundtrack.

Agreed, LaFamiglia. Hands down one of the best underrated mob films of all time. I put it #3 only behind The GF's and Goodfellas.

So I'm not the only one that has it as my top 3 movies? I love the movie dearly. It keeps away from the high profile mobster flick by focusing on a kid at the age of 9 and 16/17. It has the mob touch to it, but that's not what it's about. It's about the good and the bad. the love and the hate. It's a beautiful story.

The soundtrack is great as well.

I agree 100%, DE NIRO. I posted somewhere in the thread about liking the soundtrack. I grew up on oldies and doo wop and these songs are classics. I bought the soundtrack on iTunes for the movie made songs (Streets of the Bronx, Father and Son, and the accapella part added to "I Only Have Eyes for You"). They're great songs to listen to all year long and especially out in the car or while relaxing out in the sun.

Great soundtrack!

I like that test that Sonny gives C.

"All right, listen to me. You pull up right where she is, right? You go to get out of the car and you lock both doors. Then get out of the car, and you walk over to her, and bring her over to the car. Take out the key, put it in the lock, open the door for her, and you let her get in. Then you close the door for her. You walk around the back of the car, and you look through the rear window. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so you could get in, dump her. Just like that? Listen to me kid, if she doesn't reach over and lift up that button, so you could get in, that means she's a selfish broad, and all you've seen is the tip of the iceberg. You dump her, and you dump her fast."

So true.

Great lesson passed on from the old guy to the newbie...it gives me an idea for a new thread: "Lessons I've Learned from Watching Mob Movies".

One time when my son was dating this girl I didn't like very much well I told him to try that test. I didn't tell him where I got the test from. So he tried it and of course she failed it so I told him to dump her. He finally did later.

Bronx Tale was a good movie with plenty of good scenes. In some ways, it was even more authentic-appearing than "Goodfellas," and that soundtrack was a big plus. But it's not in the same league as the Scorsese Mafia Trilogy.

What movies make up the Scorsese Mafia Trilogy?

Casino, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull? Just a guess.

Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino.

i'd like to see Palminteri's one man show about the Bronx Tale..

Turnbull, why do you say that "Bronx Tale" is "more authentic-appearing than "Goodfellas"?

is Goodfellas a bit over the top in order to look so beautiful?

Interesting, I would put A Bronx Tale higher than Casino. But I agree that Goodfellas and Mean Streets are better. The Godfather trilogy too, obviously.

I'm so sorry that I missed it when it was here in New York. I heard that it was fantastic. Right now he's doing the show in Minnesota. HERE'S a good article about A Bronx Tale, Chazz, and his one man show.

No chance of it coming to UK then..

He had a show somewhere outside of Pittsburgh in Scranton and I had high hopes about seeing the show. I was anxious to go. I believe the show was May 12-15. I was so wrapped up in my Grandfather's health that I totally forgot about it. My Grandfather passed away on May 19th, but that's ok. I hope his show comes back to Pittsburgh next year so I could see it. I love A Bronx Tale.

Last night I found out that he is going to do this one man Bronx Tale show in Atlantic City New Jersey. So I posted all the info over in the GENERAL DISCUSSION thread figuring that more people would see it.

I Still have a question after watching this movie for the sixth time...Is it better to be loved or feared?

"Thats a good question. It would be nice to be both"

Richard Nixon once said, "People respond to fear, not love. They don't teach you that in Sunday school, but it's true."

Of course, we all know what happened to Nixon in the end...

I think the reason why Vito Corleone was such a successful godfather was that he was both loved and feared. People find someone who can be both compassionate and ruthless at the same time very appealing.

I wonder if Nixon ever beat the crap out of some rowdy bikers.

I think the reason was Mario Puzo...but thats just me

Yeah, I remember that interview, but Nixon was really only paraphrasing Niccolò Machiavelli.

If you haven't read "The Prince," you can learn a great deal from it. I'm not saying that I agree with the overall message (that the ends always justify the means), because I don't. But it's a pretty good insight into the minds of the countless rulers and businessmen who've used it as boilerplate.

There are literally dozens of translations available at your local Barnes and Noble or Borders, and they only average about 100 pages. You can knock it off in a few hours easily.

Somehow I can't see Nixon locking the door of a cabinet meeting and saying "Now youse can't leave." Wait, maybe I can?!?

http://www.planetpdf.com/ebookarticle.asp?ContentID=the%5Fprince&gid=6174

For anybody interested, here is a link for a free pdf book download of "The Prince" by Nicolo Machiavelli. Enjoy!