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This Thing of Ours by Danny Provenzano
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DVD Cover InformationActor: Bradley Whitford, Edward Lynch, Frank Vincent, Pat Cooper, Vincent Pastore Director: Danny Provenzano Brand: MAVERICK ENTERTAINMENT DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Original Language) Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC Picture Format: 1.33:1 Running Time: 100 minutes DVD Release Date: 2006-03-07 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Studio: Maverick
Movie Reviews of This Thing of OursMovie Review: HBO-grade quality, niche market of organized crime Summary: 2 StarsThis Thing of Ours (2003), from Danny Provenzano, is a film aimed at
the niche market of organized crime. It has an HBO-grade quality,
meaning a step above a TV movie, yet clearly below theatrical
quality.
What makes this picture interesting is first and foremost, the fact
that it takes viewers for a ride in another time and space, and
makes them forget about themselves, which is an essential quality of
good entertainment.
Secondly, there's the soundtrack composed by Joe Perry, lead
guitarist of Aerosmith, with a cameo appearance by the bassist, Brad
Whitford towards the end of the movie - a plus for fans of that
great rock band.
Although successful overall, with a necessary mix of both ugly and
beautiful numbers (yin and yang), adolescent and mature, classical
and cheap pop songs, there's an ecletic mix of music that at times
has the movie over-indulging in a MTV music video style of
narrative. Also, the varied numbers may irritate a number of
viewers, from the numerous teenager loud-metal and dime a dozen
popsongs.
Third, the acting is certainly credible, and viewers will find
interesting some characters, especially those of Frank Vincent,
Vincent Pastore and James Caan. Unfortunately, a number of other
actors, although excellent in their professionalism and somewhat
innocuous on screen, are totally unknowns in the business, AFAIK.
Fourth, the script introduces the concept of old-school gangsters
forging ahead past the year 2000, with computers, cell phones,
defeating communication links based on coded algoritms of satellites
in orbit through hackers. The dollar amounts of $50 million and $1
to $2 billion in the heist are staggering, and questionable in their
realism. As such, it suggests sophisticated technology as the new
religion, such that even the FBI falls into its trap, as an agent is
caught planting evidence on closed circuit TV at a gangster's
dwelling.
Visually, this is a quasi-wide screen release, that is effective,
the editing very good, the images clear, with good zooms from time
to time, to stoke the excitement of viewers.
The first third of the movie seems to start a bit slowly, with dry
lines of dialog, but gets better as the story unfolds, greatly
assisted by the soundtrack that compensates for excitement, where
often none exists visually.
There are cliches, obviously (or essential elements) characterizing
this specific underworld group ...wine, spaghetti, gardening of
tomatoes, cussing, eating, lasagna as well as the selectin of
wise-guys by their external appearance, showing the techniques of
collecting money from bad debtors, victims thrown into the trunks of
a car, etc.
The downside of this picture, is perhaps the questionable graphic
nature of blood packs exploding during point-blank range rubouts,
which many will find unnecessary and distasteful, or the scenes of
electric shocks, intimidation, etc.
While this work is very professional, perhaps more could have been
done in bringing forward a few extra actors, big names that could
have brought in more charisma, class, realism and gravitas vs. some
actors with the tendency in being lightweights mixed with the 3 or
4 big names.
The outcome of the tale, is that ... even the best underworld
organizations show no gratitude for a few billion in profits brought
in by the 3 new members who masterminded the operation, preferring
to eliminate the risk of future stool pigeons by taking them out.
Summary of This Thing of OursStudio: Maverick Entertainment Release Date: 03/07/2006
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