Irwin Winkler's "Night And The City" is a light-hearted story about a shyster lawyer who gets into trouble when he decides to become a boxing promoter. Early on in this movie, Murphy's Law is mentioned and sure enough, when this guy tries to achieve his ambitions, it seems that anything that can go wrong, does go wrong. The plot is based on the Jules Dassin 1950 classic of the same name and features plenty of humour, sharp dialogue and interesting characters.
Harry Fabian (Robert DeNiro) is an unscrupulous and fast-talking scam artist. He's strictly small time but is ambitious to become "somebody" and the way that he intends to do this is by promoting a programme of boxing matches featuring young fighters from his own locality in New York. His main problems, however, are that he doesn't have sufficient funds of his own and also that established boxing promoter and gangster Ira "Boom Boom" Grossman (Alan King) doesn't appreciate someone else competing against him and threatening his profits.
Harry regularly frequents a bar run by Phil Nasseros (Cliff Gorman) and is having an affair with Phil's wife Helen (Jessica Lange). She wants to get out of her marriage and plans to set up a bar and restaurant of her own. Harry promises to get her the liquor licence that she needs to do this.
In order to head off any potential problems, Harry recruits Boom Boom's older brother Al (Jack Warden) who's an ex-prize-fighter who detests his brother. Boom Boom warns Harry of dire consequences if anything untoward should happen to Al. Harry arranges to finance his new enterprise by borrowing money from Phil and a notoriously ruthless loan shark called Peck (Eli Wallach) and predictably, trouble follows when nothing goes according to plan.
Robert DeNiro delivers a high energy performance as the hyperactive hustler with a penchant for quick-fire monologues that simultaneously entertain and disgust whoever's listening. His recklessness, appalling lack of good judgement and capacity for betrayal make him a self-destructive character whose actions inevitably get him into hot water.
Cliff Gorman, Eli Wallach, Alan King and Jack Warden are excellent in their supporting roles as they're all convincing and add considerable substance and colour to the whole movie. Jessica Lange is also good in a part that doesn't require her to display the full range of her talents.
Judged purely on its own merits, "Night And Tha City" (1992) is a thoroughly enjoyable and fast-paced piece of entertainment. However, for those who've previously seen the 1950 version, it will inevitably be seen as a rather anaemic remake of a classic movie that had incredible intensity, power and poignancy
Harry Fabian (Robert DeNiro) is an unscrupulous and fast-talking scam artist. He's strictly small time but is ambitious to become "somebody" and the way that he intends to do this is by promoting a programme of boxing matches featuring young fighters from his own locality in New York. His main problems, however, are that he doesn't have sufficient funds of his own and also that established boxing promoter and gangster Ira "Boom Boom" Grossman (Alan King) doesn't appreciate someone else competing against him and threatening his profits.
Harry regularly frequents a bar run by Phil Nasseros (Cliff Gorman) and is having an affair with Phil's wife Helen (Jessica Lange). She wants to get out of her marriage and plans to set up a bar and restaurant of her own. Harry promises to get her the liquor licence that she needs to do this.
In order to head off any potential problems, Harry recruits Boom Boom's older brother Al (Jack Warden) who's an ex-prize-fighter who detests his brother. Boom Boom warns Harry of dire consequences if anything untoward should happen to Al. Harry arranges to finance his new enterprise by borrowing money from Phil and a notoriously ruthless loan shark called Peck (Eli Wallach) and predictably, trouble follows when nothing goes according to plan.
Robert DeNiro delivers a high energy performance as the hyperactive hustler with a penchant for quick-fire monologues that simultaneously entertain and disgust whoever's listening. His recklessness, appalling lack of good judgement and capacity for betrayal make him a self-destructive character whose actions inevitably get him into hot water.
Cliff Gorman, Eli Wallach, Alan King and Jack Warden are excellent in their supporting roles as they're all convincing and add considerable substance and colour to the whole movie. Jessica Lange is also good in a part that doesn't require her to display the full range of her talents.
Judged purely on its own merits, "Night And Tha City" (1992) is a thoroughly enjoyable and fast-paced piece of entertainment. However, for those who've previously seen the 1950 version, it will inevitably be seen as a rather anaemic remake of a classic movie that had incredible intensity, power and poignancy