Rob the Mob: True Crime, True Love, True Story

Don Steinberg at the Wall Street Journal offers a piece on a new film about organized crime called Rob the Mob.

"Rob the Mob," the latest film from director Raymond De Felitta, shares certain key traits with his prior movies. It is based in a blue-collar neighborhood of a New York borough. It features a lively script and fleshed-out characters who explode with heart, played by surprisingly recognizable actors for an indie film (including Andy Garcia and Ray Romano). And it's destined to be severely underappreciated. 

... Set in 1992 and based on a true story, "Rob the Mob" tells of a young Queens couple who become a working-class Bonnie and Clyde. Tommy (Michael Pitt of "Boardwalk Empire") is an ex-con without a plan until he discovers, by watching the trial of mobster John Gotti, that in mafia social clubs they don't keep any guns on the premises. He figures they're ripe for robbery and gets himself an Uzi. Exacting revenge on the kind of wiseguys who harassed his father is a bonus. Nina Arianda, a Tony-Award winner who played the sassy secretary in the movie "Win Win," steals scenes as Tommy's devoted girlfriend and accomplice. Their crime spree attracts the attention of a newspaperman (Mr. Romano), a philosophical mob boss (Mr. Garcia), and the FBI.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303725404579461292851154288?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303725404579461292851154288.html

You can also watch the film's trailer via the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQR2sEdqBDk

Note: I look forward to seeing the film. Good cast with Andy Garcia, Michael Rispoli, Burt Young, Ray Romano and others. I also enjoyed director Raymond De Felitta's earlier film, City Island.

The Godfather Film Opened On This Date In 1972 In New York City

Hard to believe that it was 42 years ago today that The Godfather opened in New York City.

At the time I was a 20-year-old Navy veteran, aspiring writer and student of crime. I had read and enjoyed Mario Puzo's novel prior to seeing the film and I enjoyed the film as well.

I saw The Godfather several times while it was still in the theaters, and I've watched it again countless times over the years. I've also watched The Godfather, Part II countless times over the years.

The Godfather, Part III, not so much, although I think Andy Garcia and Joe Mantegna are very good in the film. In my view, the film should have been about the conflict between the two of them, rather than killing off Mantegna early in the film.

I've enjoyed the novel and film trilogy, although I don't much buy into the so-called capitalism analogy that director Francis Coppola often claims (Organized crime existed in the Soviet Union as well). I just think it is a great crime story.

If you have enjoyed the films, but not read Mario Puzo's novel, I recommend it. I also recommend Puzo's The Godfather Papers and Other Confessions, in which the author offers his take on the making of the classic film based on his novel.  

You can also read my Crime Beat column on The Godfather and organized crime via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2011/09/goodfellas-dont-sue-goodfellas-look.html

And you can read my Q&A with Philip Leonetti, the former underboss of the Philadelphia-South Jersey La Cosa Nostra organized crime family via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2013/01/crime-beat-column-mafia-prince-q-with.html

Hemingway's Boat: Replica Of Hemingway's Boat Ready For Its Close-Up

 

Brett Clarkson at the Sun Sentinel reports on the replica of the boat that belonged to the late great writer Ernest Hemingway, which will be featured in an upcoming movie.

RIVIERA BEACH — It's a boat fit for Papa but it wasn't always that way.

Before the words 'Pilar' and 'Key West Fla' were inscribed on its stern in gleaming paint, before its entire structure was revamped and restored to exacting specifications, this stone-cold replica of Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat was a ship past its prime in New York state.

But that was then. Now, the boat is tied to a local marina dock awaiting its turn to star in the upcoming film 'Hemingway and Fuentes.' Featuring Anthony Hopkins as Hemingway and Andy Garcia as his fishing buddy Gregorio Fuentes, the movie will touch upon Hemingway's years in Cuba in the 1950s.

It was a pivotal time for Hemingway, who wrote the classic "The Old Man and the Sea" after befriending Fuentes. The two grew close and spent a lot of time fishing together on the Pilar, Hemingway's custom-made Wheeler Playmate Cabin Cruiser. Bought by the writer for $7,455 in 1934, the boat became a lifelong retreat for the author before his suicide in 1961.

"She is not only a boat but a main character in our film," Garcia said in a press release.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-hemingway-boat-20120724,0,6147776.story

You can also read an earlier post on Andy Garcia's upcoming Hemingway film via the below link:

http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2012/05/anthony-hopkins-and-andy-garcia-to-film.html

You can also read a review of Paul Henrickson's outstanding book, Hemingway's Boat, via the below link:

http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2011/09/papa-and-true-love-of-his-life.html

Anthony Hopkins And Andy Garcia To Film 'Hemingway & Fuentes'

The Hollywood Reporter informs us that Cuban-American actor-writer-producer Andy Garica will finally begin work on his film about author Ernest Hemingway and his Cuban boat captain.

Andy Garcia’s passion project centering on author Ernest Hemingway is finally a go.    

Financing has been set on Hemingway & Fuentes, with filming scheduled to begin in January 2013.

Anthony Hopkins and Annette Bening are attached to star in the project with Garcia, who is directing. Garcia also co-wrote the screenplay with Hilary Hemingway, Hemingway’s
granddaughter.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2012-anthony-hopkins-andy-garcia-anthony-hemingway-fuentes-324704

You can also read an earlier post on film projects about Hemingway via the below link:

http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2010/06/hbo-to-make-movie-of-ernest-hemingway.html