Review of A Bronx Tale (1993) by Troy F — 29 Nov 2010

The year is 1993 and Robert De Niro has already asserted himself as one of the best actors out there. He is considered highly talented and everyone loves him. At this time period, he decided to actually step into the director's tale and create a film of his own vision. He didn't fail to impress. "A Bronx Tale" is an awesome movie.

Usually we see a lot of gangster movies, but never in the eyes of a child. That's why this movie is so different, and unique. A boy named Calogero lives in an area in the Bronx where crime is everywhere. Sonny is the name of the head gangster and Cologero admires him a lot. Calogero witnesses a shotting that Sonny is involved in and he doesn't rat him out to the police. De Niro plays Colagero's father, and Chazz Palminteri plays Sonny. Over the next few years, against his father's wishes, C becomes attached to Sonny and they grow a relationship with each other, whether to hurt Calogero or help him. The movie just works so well. The story we are witnessing really does unfold before us in a way that truly allows the viewer to stay attached to what's going on. De Niro's composition allow us to stay interested and entertained throughout.

So with a well-developed premise, we also have good acting in this movie. De Niro is not playing the gangster this time, but he still does a great job as the father figure, trying to keep his son out of danger. Palminteri does a good job, and Kathrine Narducci does a good job as the mother. I forget the name of the actor who plays C as a child, as well as the actor who plays him as a teenager, but they both did a good job. You witness the kid growing up in a time of violence and racism, and you view him overcoming these obstacles in different ways.

De Niro also did a good job of choosing music of the time period to go along with the visuals. It's great to listen to the soundtrack that he has provided because are instantly thrown into the time period, and we feel apart of the film. It's awesome.

But what De Niro did that is truly admirable in my opinion, is he mixed genres together well. Not only are we in for a good gangster movie, but De Niro's direction also allows us to be touched in certain scenes. It's really a great movie to watch, because it helps the viewer experience a lot of emotions. I just think it's a film thats straight from the heart, and that's why I liked it a lot.