Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Robert De Niro. Via Vision Entertainment.
Cast: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Jr., Taral Hicks.
The choices you make will shape your life forever – and that’s just one of life’s lessons you learn in this Bronx tale. It is also a nostalgic blast from the past.
We watch a boy coming of age in an Italian-American neighbourhood. The film starts when Calogero (Brancato) is nine-years-old. He grows up with his loyalties torn between his father, Lorenzo (De Niro) and the mob boss, Sonny (Palminteri) who runs the streets.
As he grows into a teenager on the streets of the Bronx in the socially turbulent 1960s, Sonny takes Calogero under his wing. The youngster is initiated into the ways of gangland life, which is in direct contrast with teachings of his proud bus-driver father.
However, when Calogero falls for his African-American classmate, Jane (Hicks), the repercussions threaten the entire neighbourhood.
The 1993 American crime drama was adapted from Chazz Palminteri’s 1989 play of the same name.
As director and co-producer, De Niro drives home the realities of existence. Some knowledge you gain from living, you could say. Give and get love unconditionally, accept people for who they are, the greatest gift of all is life and “nothing is more tragic than wasted talent”. Then, there are the consequences of the decisions you make … whether they are good or bad.
On the other hand, there’s enjoyment in listening to the melodious soundtrack with hits by such stars as The Four Tops, The Moody Blues, Dean Martin, The Cleftones, James Brown, The Belmonts and Cool Change.
To win one of two Blu-ray discs of A Bronx Tale, tell us the name of Calogero’s girlfriend. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by next Monday, 4 June 2018. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column next week.
