The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Posted on 9 oktober 2010 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

‘The City Under the City’

Directed by:
John Huston

Written by:
W.R. Burnett (novel)
Ben Maddow (screenplay)

Cast:
Sterling Hayden (Dix Handley), Sam Jaffe (Doc Riedenschneider), Louis Calhern (Alonzo Lon’ Emmerich), Jean Hagen (Doll Conovan), Marc Lawrence (Cobby), James Whitmore (Gus Minissi), John McIntire (Police Commisioner Hardy), Barry Kelley (Lt. Ditrich), Anthony Caruso (Louis Ciavelli), Marilyn Monroe (Angela Phinlay)

John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950) opens with haunting images of a bleak, grey city; a deserted street where a police car prowls for a hold-up man. The scene sets the tone: a decaying urban jungle, teeming with hooligans, corrupt cops, racketeers, and desperate hustlers. It’s a world now lost to time, but one Huston brings to life with unflinching realism.

At the center of the story is master criminal Doc Riedenschneider, freshly released from prison and eager to orchestrate one last major heist. He enlists the help of Emmerich, a crooked lawyer with deep pockets, and together they assemble a crew. Among them is Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden), a former farmer turned criminal and a man of brute strength, sharp wit, and an unexpected sense of honor.

Huston delves into the greed driving these men, each chasing the promise of a life-changing score. Their dreams of what comes after the heist echo themes Huston explored in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. But as a classic Film Noir, fate turns against them when Emmerich betrays his accomplices, absconding with the loot. The tragedy unfolds from there, compounded by the relentless pursuit of the police, who are just as hungry for their own ‘big score’. Huston underscores this irony early on, as cops raid a gambling den, knowing full well it’s a drop in the bucket of the city’s corruption.

The Asphalt Jungle is a gripping crime film, marked by Huston’s signature direction and standout performances. Hayden is particularly compelling as Dix, a man who is both intimidating in his criminal resolve and tender in his moments with Doll, his devoted girlfriend. The heist itself is a masterclass in tension, and the film’s denouement is tragic yet refreshingly free of heavy-handed moralizing. And for a fleeting moment, a young Marilyn Monroe graces the screen, radiant as ever in a small but memorable role.

A timeless noir, The Asphalt Jungle remains a stark, unforgettable portrait of ambition, betrayal, and the crushing weight of fate.

Rating:

Quote:

EMMERICH: After all, crime is only a left-handed form of human endeavour.

Trivia:

The third Film Noir effort from director Huston after The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Key Largo (1948). This is the first one without Humphrey Bogart.

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Posted on 5 oktober 2010 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

‘One man lives in the neighbourhood, another man owns it’

Directed by:
Robert De Niro

Written by:
Chazz Palminteri (based on his play)

Cast:
Robert De Niro (Lorenzo Anello), Chazz Palminteri (Sonny), Lillo Brancato Calogero ‘C’ Anello (age 17), Francis Capra (Calogero ‘C’ Anello (age 9), Taral Hicks (Jane Williams), Kathrine Narducci (Rosina Anello), Clem Caserta (Jimmy Whispers)
Dave Salerno (Frankie Coffeecake), Joe Pesci (Carmine)

Set in the Bronx during the early 1960s, A Bronx Tale follows Calogero Anello, a young boy torn between two father figures: his honest, working-class dad Lorenzo, a bus driver who takes him to Yankees games, and Sonny, the local mob boss who rules the neighborhood from the bar next door. Though Lorenzo warns his son to stay away from the bar and its criminal elements, Calogero becomes increasingly fascinated by Sonny’s power and charisma.

When Calogero witnesses Sonny commit a murder outside their home, he chooses not to identify him to the police. From that moment on, Sonny takes the boy under his wing. Despite his father’s disapproval, Calogero begins to spend time with Sonny and his crew, learning street smarts that complement his formal education.

As he enters his teenage years, Calogero walks a fine line between two worlds. He avoids falling into a life of crime, but still associates with a group of reckless, racist friends. His life takes a turn when he falls in love with Jane, a Black girl from his school, just as racial tensions in the neighborhood begin to escalate. Faced with rising conflict and peer pressure, Calogero must decide who he wants to be – drawing on the contrasting life lessons imparted by his two mentors.

Robert De Niro’s directorial debut is a modest yet heartfelt film that captures the spirit of the 1960s Bronx with warmth and authenticity. Though it starts off resembling a mob drama like GoodFellas, it evolves into a thoughtful coming-of-age story about identity, morality, and the power of choice. The period soundtrack – featuring The Impressions, The Four Tops, Dion & The Belmonts, and Dean Martin – enhances the film’s nostalgic charm.

While the film tackles racial issues with sincerity, the relationship between Calogero and Jane feels underdeveloped and at times unconvincing. Nevertheless, the performances are solid across the board. Chazz Palminteri delivers a compelling portrayal of the tough yet complex Sonny, while De Niro plays against type as the principled, soft-spoken Lorenzo. Joe Pesci also makes a brief but memorable appearance.

Overall, A Bronx Tale is a touching and nuanced film that blends the grit of street life with the warmth of a coming-of-age story. It may not hit every note perfectly, but its heart is in the right place.

Rating:

Quote:
LORENZO: “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.”

Trivia:
The story, written by Chazz Palminteri, is semi-autobiographical. His real name is Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri.

Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995)

Posted on 26 september 2010 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

‘They can die quickly. They can die slowly. But they must die!’

Directed by:
Gary Fleder

Written by:
Scott Rosenberg

Cast:
Andy Garcia (Jimmy ‘The Saint’ Tosnia), Christopher Lloyd (Pieces), William Forsythe (Franchise), Bill Nunn (Easy Wind), Treat Williams (Critical Bill), Jack Warden (Joe Heff), Steve Buscemi (Mister Shhh), Fairuza Balk (Lucinda), Gabrielle Anwar (Dagney), Christopher Walken (The Man with the Plan)

Jimmy the Saint (Andy Garcia) is a decent guy with a criminal background. He now runs a video business where dying people can record final words of wisdom for their loved ones.

Things are going well for Jimmy: he meets a nice girl (Gabrielle Anwar) and leads a pleasant life, but then his old boss calls for him. The crippled gangster ‘The Man with the Plan’ (Christopher Walken) asks Jimmy to do one final job. Jimmy agrees and brings along four old friends. The job goes horribly wrong, and the five friends are now marked for death.

What is especially notable about Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead is the awesome cast. The ‘good’ guys are a wonderful collection (Lloyd, Forsythe, Williams, Nunn), with a charismatic Garcia in the lead. The other camp isn’t shy of great players either: Christopher Walken gives a very sinister performance, but the scene-stealer is Steve Buscemi. The scenes in which his character Mr. Shhh appears are the best in the whole movie.

The problem with Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead is that during the first hour, it is hard to see what the makers wanted to achieve. It appears to be a whacky gangster film / black comedy, seemingly inspired by Tarantino, who brought out Pulp Fiction a year earlier. But if that is the case, it is not whacky enough – and not funny enough, for that matter.

When Christopher Lloyd starts talking about the good old days and says, “We did the things,” I couldn’t help but think: why not now? There is too much talking about stuff that happened before the movie. Things to do in Denver when you’re dead? These guys don’t even do stuff when they’re alive!

Then again, as the movie approaches its ending, it becomes clearer what the screenplay is aiming for. The ending is a fairly impressive piece of writing. It makes you think about death, only in an enjoyable way. Now that can’t be too bad, can it?

Rating:

Quote:
CRITICAL BILL: “I am Godzilla, you are Japan!”

Trivia:
Screenplay writer Scott Rosenberg (Con Air, High Fidelity) wrote the script in two weeks. It was partly in reflection to the death of his father from cancer.

Machine Gun Kelly (1958)

Posted on 26 september 2010 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

Directed by:
Roger Corman

Written by:
R. Wright Campbell

Cast:
Charles Bronson (George R. ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly), Susan Cabot (Florence ‘Flo’ Becker), Morey Amsterdam (Michael Fandango), Richard Devon (Apple), Jack Lambert (Howard), Frank DeKova (Harry), Connie Cilchrist (‘Ma’ Becker), Wally Campo (Maize), Barboura Morris (Lynn Grayson), Lori Martin (Sherryl Vito)

George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly was one of the most notorious criminals from the prohibition days, along with Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. What sets him apart is that Machine Gun is scared to death of death. Whenever he sees a coffin or another omen of death he starts sweating and shaking like a leaf. Hence the tagline of this film: ‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

The movie starts with a daring robbery. Kelly and his pals rob 41.000 dollars from a local bank. Quite a sum in those days, but Kelly wants more. His hothead behaviour causes friction in the gang, and his relationship with his girlfriend ‘Flo’ is also unstable. When they kidnap the daughter of an oil magnate, things start to go very wrong and Kelly’s downfall draws closer.

This low budget flick is directed by King of the B-movies Roger Corman. Movies about phobic gangsters were popular in the fifties. In 1950 James Cagney played a gangster with a mother complex in White Heat. This film kind of reminds of that one; only it is far from the masterpiece White Heat is. Charles Bronson plays a very cold and unsympathetic character. That makes it hard to care what happens to him. Only worth a look because of the historical aspect. In fact, the story is interesting enough for a remake – by a gifted director. That could definitely work.

Rating: