Review of 29th Street (1991) by Joseph L — 29 Oct 2009

It's a shame that more people don't know about this film. I suppose most reviews start out this way, but it's true; once you've seen this unknown treaure you just want to share it with everybody who enjoys good movies.

29th STREET is the more or less true story of Frank Pesce Jr. winner of $6.2 million dollars in the first New York State lottery and of his very New York Italian family--if you've ever lived next door to one you know what I mean; everything is screamed rather than spoken, certain expletives are used liberally, a casual question turns into World War III, and they have a unique attitude toward the mafia.

(Our next door neighbors all managed to move to Florida based on their father's career running numbers for the mob. Guess the lottery killed that job.) Anyhow, 29th STREET is advertised as "GOODFELLAS meets IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE", and I can see why they make that claim.

It's a feel good kind of movie with no death and no violence inspite of the mafia's presence--the whole thing has a sort of Damon Runyon flavor to it in that respect. But its real story centers around Pesce's family and in particular his relationship with his father.

This movie has got it all, it's funny, its touching, and the acting is Oscar worthy with truly stunning performances from Danny Aiello as the father and Australian born Anthony LaPaglia as the son.

Try it, you'll like it. (By the way, before you get bent out of shape, I'm half Italian too.).