edited by Jonathan Doyle

Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

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Rainer on Dreyfuss

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I can't find a stand-out money quote, but Peter Rainer's Bloomberg.com piece about Richard Dreyfuss is well phrased and fully felt. Four months from turning 60, Dreyfuss used to be an essential player who was sent all the best scripts early on. He deserves a lot better than what he's getting today. I'm sure he was glad to be hired to play a loaded gay guy in The Poseidon Adventure, but it felt to me like a minor insult.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 30, 2007 at 05:51 PM

comment #1

Rod32303 says ...

I thought he did nice work in "Poseidon" but I agree with you. I miss him on screen. I loved him in "Mr. Holland's Opus," (as a teacher, I am biased to it) and I think he and Streisand worked wonders Martin Ritt's underrated "Nuts." Anyone know...is he a pill? There was was some drama with him in London on stage in "The Producers."

Intense, intelligent actor, though.

Posted by Rod32303 at June 30, 2007 06:20 PM

comment #2

p.Vice says ...

I'm not sure what the point of this article is supposed to be. The idea that Dreyfuss has appeared in a "handful of films in the past decade" is buried. Otherwise, where's the beef -- that Dreyfuss gave some great performances that most people have probably forgotten by now because they can't remember anything beyond six weeks ago? No shit, Sherlock. If this is the best Rainer can come up with, he deserves to be writing for Bloomberg.com.

Posted by p.Vice at June 30, 2007 06:25 PM

comment #3

cjKennedy says ...

Did anyone else read sometime last year that Dreyfus had essentially retired from movies to focus on theater and teaching, but agreed to do Poseidon because they offered him stacks of cash?

Posted by cjKennedy at June 30, 2007 06:25 PM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

His TV-Series from a few years back, THE EDUCATION OF MAX BICKFORD, was excellent. I wish they could have brought him on THE WEST WING or something. HBO should hook him up into something, maybe Ari Gold's father on ENTOURAGE or as himself on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.

His drug stuff really took a bit out of it, but he's had a great run. He was excellent in POSEIDON. At least he's working. Doesn't he have some SWEETWATER boxing movie coming out?

Posted by BurmaShave at June 30, 2007 06:39 PM

comment #5

Jeremy Smith says ...

cj: He admits as much right here:

http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=4405

Posted by Jeremy Smith at June 30, 2007 06:45 PM

comment #6

The Winchester says ...

He's outstanding in Let It Ride. Too bad that was 18 years ago.

Posted by The Winchester at June 30, 2007 07:24 PM

comment #7

malibugigolo says ...

He always deserved the best coke.
That's it.
As his amped up performance in What About Bob? illustrated.

Posted by malibugigolo at June 30, 2007 08:17 PM

comment #8

malibugigolo says ...

intelligent actor?

So that means they can say three syllables in one take?

I'm confused.

Posted by malibugigolo at June 30, 2007 08:20 PM

comment #9

Balthazar says ...

Jaws, Close Encounters, American Graffiti, The Goodbye Girl, Mr. Holland's Opus, Tin Men, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Not a bad little career

Posted by Balthazar at June 30, 2007 08:49 PM

comment #10

Hallick says ...

I stumbled into the middle of "Stakeout" on some cable channel a couple of weeks ago and was wondering the same "where the hell did he GO?". Why Dreyfuss isn't even at least popping up on a regular basis doing great supporting turns is hard to understand unless he became such a legendary-level dick nobody wants to work with him. Next thing you know, he'll be stuck in a forgetable USA Network series like Judy Davis (and what in ungodly FUCK happened to her career!?).

Posted by Hallick at June 30, 2007 09:00 PM

comment #11

BurmaShave says ...

Don't forget DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS and WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?

Posted by BurmaShave at June 30, 2007 09:01 PM

comment #12

Hallick says ...

Okay, I just read the article and can anyone explain how in god's name Peter Rainer got that published? That's gotta be the worst thing I've ever read. Did he accidentally sent the site his post-it notes or something? Parade magazine wouldn't bother publishing that on their Q&A page.

Posted by Hallick at June 30, 2007 09:07 PM

comment #13

christian says ...

he was absolutely brilliant on bill maher a few months back.

Posted by christian at June 30, 2007 11:40 PM

comment #14

BurmaShave says ...

He's also pretty stellar in SILVER CITY, which I forgot about because it's a mostly dreadful movie.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 1, 2007 12:33 AM

comment #15

cjKennedy says ...

Jeremy. I think that's where I first read about the retirement. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Posted by cjKennedy at July 1, 2007 01:23 AM

comment #16

malibugigolo says ...

christian: "he was absolutely brilliant on bill maher a few months back"

So he made a 300 pound chick horny by not calling her a stupid loser.

What a accomplishment!

All hail...coke head Dick!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by malibugigolo at July 1, 2007 01:40 AM

comment #17

OddDuck says ...

That article read like something I'd find in a Reader's Digest or Parade Magazine in a podiatrist's waiting room.

Posted by OddDuck at July 1, 2007 02:36 AM

comment #18

EOTW says ...

Didnt Dreyfuss and Bill Murray hate each other while making WHAT ABOUT BOB? I recall reading a story about the making of RUSHMORE and in the scene where Murray drives over Max's bike, before the take, Wes Anderson put a picture of Dreyfuss on the steering wheel, causing Murray to crack up before the take. Considering how famous;y hard Murray has been on some shoots, WAB must've been a bitch of a shoot if that were the case.

Posted by EOTW at July 1, 2007 06:51 AM

comment #19

vansmith says ...

i read julia phillip's book years ago and she mentions his huge coke and vodka appetite on close encounters and jaws, but i dont think it took away from his performance, he was always a little manic. calling a hollywood actor a coke head is like calling....

Posted by vansmith at July 1, 2007 07:14 AM

comment #20

EOTW says ...

vansmith, so true, i hear these guys get it delivered to the set.

Posted by EOTW at July 1, 2007 10:25 AM

comment #21

ROTC says ...

When Dreyfuss was on Bill Maher's show last year, he spoke at length about how he was studying for a post-graduate degree in Civics from (if memory serves) Oxford or Cambridge. He made it very clear that he was committed to spending the rest of his life resuscitating public interest in civics. So for everyone who is wondering why Dreyfuss is not acting anymore, that may very truly be the answer.

Posted by ROTC at July 1, 2007 11:26 AM

comment #22

Dixon Steele says ...

There was (still may be) a very good video interview with him on Poland's website, in which Dreyfuss admitted, while he still enjoys acting, he's lost the passion he once had for it.

Still, the guy had a great run, but it's seems dubious he'll enjoy the second career wind i.e. Dustin Hoffman, etc. Or if he even wants it.

Posted by Dixon Steele at July 1, 2007 03:51 PM

comment #23