Director: Robert De Niro
Starring: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri and Joe Pesci
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors that achieved fame years ago are as beloved as Robert De Niro. Since his rise to stardom in the 1970’s, De Niro has become a legendary icon. Whether it’s raging boxers, taxi drivers or gangsters, De Niro has played many characters. Arguably, De Niro’s finest strength as an actor is his approach of method acting. He is one of those rare actors that has always poured both his heart and soul in every single role. An actor with an intense commitment to his craft, De Niro has become a world-famous icon in entertainment. Shining a bright light in darkness, the actor has become a legend in the entertainment business. Through his ability to portray larger than life characters which are compelling, De Niro has created an enduring legacy that’s proven lasting. Throughout his lasting career, De Niro has starred in countless memorable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of De Niro and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “A Bronx Tale” is his most underrated work. Following release in 1993, Robert De Niro’s directorial debut has stood the test of time as a crime classic. Packed with captivating production, engaging storytelling and bold acting, it’s one of the best crime films ever made. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Robert De Niro, who plays a father that faces sorrow. Ultimately, what makes “A Bronx Tale” a crime classic is its universal appeal. Unlike most crime films, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about conflicted fathers, there are several reasons why “A Bronx Tale” is a commemorated film worth watching.
Set in the Bronx neighbourhood, “A Bronx Tale” tells the story of a conflicted father struggling to raise a son that faces a high crime likelihood. Robert De Niro embodies Lorenzo Anello, a working-class father that gives his son dreams to follow. Lorenzo has always sought to protect his son Calegoro (Lilo Brancato) from dangerous gangsters in his city. However, Lorenzo’s dreams for his son become shattered when he discovers his lifestyle of crime causing disaster. As all the odds soon become stacked against his favour, Lorenzo questions his abilities to be a successful father. Faced with a dilemma, Lorenzo struggles to raise his son in a poor neighbourhood in America.
Robert De Niro is a newcomer towards the stories of gangsters facing sorrow. Before he made “A Bronx Tale”, De Niro had never made a movie about gangsters before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of gangsters facing adversity in New York City but he succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, De Niro captures a father embarking on a journey to care for kids in a crime-ridden city. Evoking Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”, the filmmaker expertly uses point of view shots to capture hardships gangsters go through. For instance, POV shots elevate the father lecture scene. During this memorable scene, Lorenzo discovers his son has engaged in a life of crime causing tension. Through bold POV shots, De Niro creates a portrait of a father that’s engaging. POV shots are tricky to use in most movies. As Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” suggested, POV shots elevate boxing movies. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using stunning visuals, De Niro captures tensions that gangster fathers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “A Bronx Tale” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best crime films ever made. Evoking Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas”, De Niro effectively uses real-life locations across New York to capture tensions that gangsters are facing. For instance, the New York locations elevate the mobs meeting scene. During this intense scene, Lorenzo has a tense meeting with a group of gangsters in a local restaurant that causes tension. Through stunning New York locations, De Niro creates a portrait of mobs that’s compelling. Furthermore, the music is dazzling. Butch Barbella’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burdens that gangsters bear. Using strong production, De Niro captures lives of gangs facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “A Bronx Tale” is a crime film that’s riveting. The film is expertly written, and expertly uses silence to capture tension gangsters are facing. De Niro’s strength as a writer is his abilities to capture hardships gangsters experience through silence. Evoking Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America”, De Niro uses silence to capture gangsters that face trauma. For instance, silence enhances the father son scene. During this memorable scene, Lorenzo has a silent moment to bond with his son that he loves dearly. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” proved clearly, silence elevates films about bipolar. Todd Phillips’ “Joker” suggested that silence elevates comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through an exceptional screenplay, De Niro captures fathers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Robert De Niro delivers one of the greatest performances of his career as Lorenzo. De Niro first earned appreciation for portraying troubled taxi drivers in crime dramas. With “A Bronx Tale”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a father struggling to raise a son in a gangs city but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. With mesmerizing expressions, De Niro captures the angst, grief and resentment of a father struggling to raise mobster sons. It is a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actors today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Robert De Niro, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciation. Chaz Palminteri is captivating, bringing authority to a gangster that seeks to control crime in a destructive city. Lillo Brancato is brilliant, capturing sorrow of a teenager engaging in lifestyle of gangsters with dreams to follow. Lastly, Taran Hicks is unforgettable. As a fierce black woman, she is fantastic.
Finally, “A Bronx Tale” would earn the praise of everyone for capturing gangsters which rarely fail. Unlike most crime films, it covers bold themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses bold themes such as ambition, mental health and fatherhood which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with the lives of gangsters to appreciate it. It delivers a strong message about fatherhood which will resonate with everyone. Therefore, “A Bronx Tale” is one of those rare crime films that everyone would adore.
Fans of Robert De Niro will definitely enjoy “A Bronx Tale” and so would movie-goers seeking strong entertainment. A captivating crime drama, it honours an actor which has charisma.
Nearly 30 years following the release of an iconic movie about fathers seeking to raise children in a crime-ridden city, it’s a strong reminder of a legendary actor that has built a lasting legacy through abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable films audiences love dearly.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 