A BRONX TALE is a gangster story set in New York of the 1960s, produced and directed by Robert De Niro and adapted from a play by co-star Chazz Palmentiri. It's a film I'd vaguely heard of but never actually watched until now, despite being a massive fan - as are most people - of the gangster collaborations between Martin Scorsese and De Niro. It's a shame that this film is forgotten in comparison to GOODFELLAS and CASINO, because it's very nearly on the same level as those classics. It boasts excellent photography throughout, a great recreation of the era, a wonderful soundtrack, and superb, multi-layered performances from the entire cast. De Niro excels as a straight guy for once but this is Palmentiri's film and he runs away with it. The story is both moving and sensitive, a forthright coming-of-age drama with a few moments of violence, but at its heart this is about father/son relationships and the trials of growing up and doing the right thing. Excellent stuff.
Review of A Bronx Tale
