'THE FAMILY': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Mafia comedy film starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer and directed and co-written by Luc Besson. The film is about a violent mafia family who's trying to start a new life in the witness protection program. It's based on the book 'Malavita' ('Badfellas' in English) by Tonino Benacquista and co-scripted by Michael Caleo. The film also stars Dianna Agron (of 'GLEE' fame), John D'Leo and Tommy Lee Jones. Besson is known for directing and writing such popular action films as 'LA FEMME NIKITA', 'LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL' and 'THE FIFTH ELEMENT' as well as writing and producing several others, including the popular franchise films of 'TAKEN' and 'THE TRANSPORTER'. This is his first major try at comedy and he's not quite as efficient at it but he still definitely knows how to deliver the action.
The film centers on a former Brooklyn mob boss named Giovanni Manzoni (De Niro) and his family; his wife Maggie (Pfeiffer), daughter Belle (Agron) and son Warren (D'Leo). After a crime kingpin, Don Luchese (Stan Carp), tried to kill Giovanni and his family, at a barbecue, the Manzoni family turned against Luchese and ratted him out. They entered the witness protection program and have been moving around under different identities for six years. FBI agent Robert Stansfield (Jones) has been trying to keep the family in line but they keep falling back on their violent ways and are constantly getting in trouble (wrecking havoc wherever they go). They've most recently relocated to a small town in France (where they again cause a lot of mischief and violence) and are continuously hunted by Luchese from prison.
The film is of course a very dark comedy; it's about a family of killers who have not reformed in the slightest. It's also extremely violent so it's definitely not for the light hearted. Those who like black comedies and violent mafia stories should be pretty entertained though and the film couldn't be better cast. De Niro and Pfeiffer are perfect as the two leads and Agron and D'Leo are likable as the two mafia kids (Agron is stunningly beautiful as well). The movie was also executive produced by Martin Scorsese and it does have a decent amount of mafia film buff jokes. Like I said I didn't find the film that funny but the action is beautifully directed and in that way it definitely delivers what Besson fans have come to expect. It's a bit of a change for him and it's definitely an odd grab bag of a film but it does have some fun to offer.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JDL6l-UAwQ
Mafia comedy film starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer and directed and co-written by Luc Besson. The film is about a violent mafia family who's trying to start a new life in the witness protection program. It's based on the book 'Malavita' ('Badfellas' in English) by Tonino Benacquista and co-scripted by Michael Caleo. The film also stars Dianna Agron (of 'GLEE' fame), John D'Leo and Tommy Lee Jones. Besson is known for directing and writing such popular action films as 'LA FEMME NIKITA', 'LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL' and 'THE FIFTH ELEMENT' as well as writing and producing several others, including the popular franchise films of 'TAKEN' and 'THE TRANSPORTER'. This is his first major try at comedy and he's not quite as efficient at it but he still definitely knows how to deliver the action.
The film centers on a former Brooklyn mob boss named Giovanni Manzoni (De Niro) and his family; his wife Maggie (Pfeiffer), daughter Belle (Agron) and son Warren (D'Leo). After a crime kingpin, Don Luchese (Stan Carp), tried to kill Giovanni and his family, at a barbecue, the Manzoni family turned against Luchese and ratted him out. They entered the witness protection program and have been moving around under different identities for six years. FBI agent Robert Stansfield (Jones) has been trying to keep the family in line but they keep falling back on their violent ways and are constantly getting in trouble (wrecking havoc wherever they go). They've most recently relocated to a small town in France (where they again cause a lot of mischief and violence) and are continuously hunted by Luchese from prison.
The film is of course a very dark comedy; it's about a family of killers who have not reformed in the slightest. It's also extremely violent so it's definitely not for the light hearted. Those who like black comedies and violent mafia stories should be pretty entertained though and the film couldn't be better cast. De Niro and Pfeiffer are perfect as the two leads and Agron and D'Leo are likable as the two mafia kids (Agron is stunningly beautiful as well). The movie was also executive produced by Martin Scorsese and it does have a decent amount of mafia film buff jokes. Like I said I didn't find the film that funny but the action is beautifully directed and in that way it definitely delivers what Besson fans have come to expect. It's a bit of a change for him and it's definitely an odd grab bag of a film but it does have some fun to offer.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JDL6l-UAwQ