A Bronx Tale
Composite Score: 82.8
Starring: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Francis Capra, Taral Hicks, Kathrine Narducci, Clem Caserta, Robert D’Andrea, Eddie Montanaro, Joseph D’Onofrio, and Louis Vanaria
Director: Robert De Niro
Writer: Chazz Palminteri
Genres: Crime, Drama, Coming-of-Age
MPAA Rating: R for strong language and several scenes of violence
Box Office: $17.29 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
A Bronx Tale is the film adaptation of Chazz Palminteri’s one-man play of the same name based on his own experiences growing up in an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx. The film follows the life of Calogero, the son of a New York bus driver, and the many people who impact his life choices as he grows up in the Bronx. The film’s rich cast of characters, period-appropriate music, and deeply personal story serve to make it a love letter of sorts to the Bronx of the 1960s, rife with Italian mobsters, doo-wop music, racial tension, and boys deciding what kind of men they would like to become.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Though its conflict hinges on Calogero’s gangster affiliations, A Bronx Tale is less of a true mobster flick and more of a coming-of-age story with mob ties. People looking only for made men, stings, informants, and bribes will unfortunately leave this film a bit disappointed. Some of those things are present, but they take a back seat to the story of a boy and the things that influence his upbringing. I don’t think this is at all a knock against the film but against its marketing. It is important when approaching films that released years ago to have either no expectations or the proper expectations, and if you’re reading this, I expect that you’re looking for the latter. So… here I am, informing you about what kind of film to expect from A Bronx Tale.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Personally, I found A Bronx Tale to be one of the more refreshingly unique coming-of-age stories that I’ve watched in some time. Playing the story of a boy who idolizes mobsters but whose father wants nothing to do with them as a story of growing up is a remarkably brilliant move. Calogero is forced to confront so many truths throughout this story that by the time it concludes, his ultimate destination isn’t really in doubt. From the contrasting mentors in Lorenzo (Robert De Niro) and Sonny (Chazz Palminteri), Calogero receives the advice that shapes the course of his life. From the parallel paths of his own young friends and Sonny’s own deeply flawed inner circle, he comes to realize the importance of choosing the right companions. And ultimately, from the end results of Sonny’s life and those of Calogero’s own friends, he finds a satisfactory answer to the question of whether it is better to be feared or loved.
The mentor figures in A Bronx Tale also drive its central conflict and serve as excellent representations of the society that they come from, offering Calogero to take the best parts or the worst parts and apply them to his own life. De Niro’s Lorenzo is proud and law-abiding, willing to take less from life in order to stay out of the pocket of organized crime. At the same time, he remains hesitant to accept the integration of African Americans into their neighborhood, indicating to his son a resistance to his dating a black woman. By contrast, Palminteri’s Sonny flaunts his criminal status, bullying others, gambling regularly, and even committing murder in broad daylight. Again though, he carries with him a sense of mature fun, being open to newness while recognizing the dangers of youthful hubris. Both men would love for Calogero to fully embrace their own lifestyle, but the film (and Calogero) recognizes the flaws of both and the need to learn from the mistakes of past generations rather than following them blindly.
A Bronx Tale’s contrasting and flawed father figures serve as the catalysts for the film’s main character in what is undeniably one of the most interesting coming-of-age stories ever brought to screen, making this worthy of its place among the Greatest Films of All Time. Though audiences expecting a pure gangster movie might walk away underwhelmed, those who come in with an open mind, ready to experience a boy growing into a man in the Bronx, will be greatly rewarded. This film is currently available to stream through Fubo or on AMC+ or to rent on most other streaming services. Definitely give this one a watch.
