Review of A Bronx Tale (1993) by Yorkman — 14 Jan 2021
Robert De Niro, in his directorial debut also co-stars in this coming of age drama set (as the title suggests) in the Bronx, initially offering an extended frontispiece in 1960 before moving forward to 1968.
Chazz Palminteri stars, and the film is based on his original story and is filmed from a screenplay he and De Niro worked on together.
The story revolves around Calogero aka "C", the son of De Niro's bus driving father Lorenzo. C's apartment is just a couple of doors down from the bar where Mafia 'boss' Sonny (Palmintero) runs all of his illicit dealings in the neighbourhood.
Young C is drawn into the lifestyle, against Lorenzo's wishes, and has to balance his personal life and his desire to become what both his father and Sonny want him to be.
It's a by the numbers story, but it plays out incredibly well. All the actors know where their boundaries are, but go to town within them.
Add in a fantastic contemporary soundtrack and well thought out cinematography and the illusion of the late 60s is put up well on screen.
The film is let down though by a lot of heavy-handed moralising. It does feel out of place having both of the male adults in C's life spending so much time spelling out the ideals he should be living by.
This review of A Bronx Tale (1993) was written by Yorkman on 14 Jan 2021.
A Bronx Tale has generally received very positive reviews.
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