Review of The Family (2013) by Luis B — 01 Jan 2014

12-14-13.

"SOME CALL IT ORGANIZED CRIME. OTHERS CALL IT FAMILY.".

In most mob movies, the gangsters try to maintain some distance between business and family life. Usually in Mafia films the wife start to realize her husband's true vision or the kids (or at least one) knowing. But the family is part of the crime.

Robert De Niro plays a former mob man who him and his family lay low in Normandy, France and enters the witness protection program. But the problem is for his character Fred Manzoni finds it hard to keep his old, violent habits away from his past and they bring more attention right now than back at home. The wife and kids also has habits, the wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) blowing up grocery stores, the daughter (Dianna Agron) reaching violent moments while staying sexy and confident, and his son (John D'leo) who gets shit going, They're the mob unto themselves.

Another problem with De Niro's character is I don't see why the man became violent, I understand him bringing out his baseball bat on the plumber who tried to rip him off but the flashbacks don't really explain him well to his violence. However "The Family" is cheerfully violent, hit-and-miss effort in moments of inspiration, and it's funny.