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)

Upcoming

July 2

Hancock

July 3

The Whackness

July 4

Diminished Capacity

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Holding Trevor

Kabluey

We are Together

July 9

Full Battle Rattle

July 11

A Man Named Pearl

August

Eight Miles High

Garden Party

Harold

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Meet Dave

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

The Stone Angel

July 18

A Very British Gangster

Before I Forget

The Dark Knight

The Doorman

Felon

Lou Reed's Berlin

Transsiberian

July 22

Two Tickets to Paradise

July 23

Boy A

"Gangster" dynamic

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American Gangster is looking at a huge opening weekend and is running 90% positive on Rotten Tomatoes and 79% positive on Metacritic. And yet many of the critics giving it a thumbs-up are saying "yes but..." Plus the rumble around town is that Academy members are feeling the same way. Support is positive but a bit soft. Enjoyment and admiration, but hats aren't being thown into the air.

If I were running Gangster's Oscar campaign, I'd be worried about those lack of hats. The word "but" is so often a decisive factor in life. I love my wife but oh, you kid! Watch out for those "buts." Those "buts" can sneak up in the middle of the night and kill you.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 31, 2007 at 01:17 PM

comment #1

vansmith says ...

they're probably much more concerned with the box office right now, oscar nods will keep it out longer but it cost 150m at least, thats alot to net..what was the overseas take for departed? probably be less for this one..

Posted by vansmith at October 31, 2007 02:08 PM

comment #2

actionman says ...

As much as I want Scott and Crowe to have a big blockbuster again, I just don't see this movie doing The Departed style box office. I hope I am wrong though.

Posted by actionman at October 31, 2007 02:14 PM

comment #3

p.Vice says ...

Music to my ears. The thought of Marty presenting this year's Best Director trophy to a hack like Ridley Scott is enough to make my stomach curdle.

Posted by p.Vice at October 31, 2007 02:23 PM

comment #4

Mike Schaefer says ...

Actionman: I don't know how Departed skewed, racially speaking, but I see AG getting the Departed crowd plus the "urban" demo -- guys who've watched Scarface over and over on DVD. (Not for nothing is there a Jay-Z CD "inspired" by the film.) It's gonna be huge, no doubt about it.

Posted by Mike Schaefer at October 31, 2007 02:23 PM

comment #5

lawnorder says ...

American Gangster is the best film of the year. Scott has knocked it out of the park. I'm not a fan of The Departed - and this film kicks The Departed's ass. I'd be more than happy to see Ridley accept his long over due Oscar.

Posted by lawnorder at October 31, 2007 02:35 PM

comment #6

Chicago48 says ...

"As much as I want Scott and Crowe to have a big blockbuster again, I just don't see this movie doing The Departed style box office. I hope I am wrong though."

You're wrong because the Black community, the Latino community and everybody who loves a good gangster movie will turn out. Interesting you didn't mention Denzel lin the "Scott and Crowe" line.

Posted by Chicago48 at October 31, 2007 02:38 PM

comment #7

actionman says ...

"...Interesting you didn't mention Denzel lin the "Scott and Crowe" line."

I didn't mention Denzel because he's had one hit after another. Ridley is coming off a massive flop and Crowe hasn't exactly been "blockbuster BO" of late.

"Actionman: I don't know how Departed skewed, racially speaking, but I see AG getting the Departed crowd plus the "urban" demo -- guys who've watched Scarface over and over on DVD. (Not for nothing is there a Jay-Z CD "inspired" by the film.) It's gonna be huge, no doubt about it."

True...give the urban demo something to enjoy and more ofthen than not they'll turn out. Again, I'd be more than psyched to see it become a blockbuster.

"Music to my ears. The thought of Marty presenting this year's Best Director trophy to a hack like Ridley Scott is enough to make my stomach curdle."

It's funny...as much as this would anger you, I'd be jumping for joy to see my two favorite directors on stage at the same time, with Ridley finally getting the big enchilada that he deserves. It's a fucking emabarrassment that he lost the directing oscar for Black Hawk Down. He directed the shit out of that masterpiece.

Posted by actionman at October 31, 2007 02:47 PM

comment #8

Arran says ...

The previous year's best director doesn't present the next one, does he/she? Were Ridley to win, I doubt Marty would be presenting.

Posted by Arran at October 31, 2007 02:51 PM

comment #9

Glenn Whipp says ...

Put it this way: The probability of Marty presenting is greater than that of Ridley receiving.

Posted by Glenn Whipp at October 31, 2007 02:59 PM

comment #10

ZayTonday says ...

A good portion of the "urban" demo has already seen American Gangster thanks to people peddling bootleg copies of the leaked screener on the streets.

Posted by ZayTonday at October 31, 2007 03:38 PM

comment #11

p.Vice says ...

Actionman -- "Directed the shit" is a brilliant way to describe his work on Black Hawk Down. Nice work.

Posted by p.Vice at October 31, 2007 04:01 PM

comment #12

actionman says ...

p.vice...sorry i couldn't elaborate further, I have a job.

Posted by actionman at October 31, 2007 04:05 PM

comment #13

PerfectTommy says ...

Sure, he's doing some stinkers. But the director of two of the best science fiction films ever made, "Blade Runner" 7 "Alien", along with "The Duelists", "Black Hawk Down" and "Thelma & Louis" is no hack.

Posted by PerfectTommy at October 31, 2007 04:34 PM

comment #14

PerfectTommy says ...

Sorry "done some stinkers". Haven't seen American Gangster, but looking forward to it. The smells IMHO emit from Legend, GI Jane and Hannibal.

Posted by PerfectTommy at October 31, 2007 04:36 PM

comment #15

MASON says ...

Saw AG on Monday night. Thought it was good not great. Part of the flick reminded me of Heat, but not as good. Scarface, but not as good. Serpico, but not at good. Etc, etc...

Posted by MASON at October 31, 2007 04:46 PM

comment #16

Josh Massey says ...

Can we agree, though, that American Gangster is - at the very least - a f'in great title?

Posted by Josh Massey at October 31, 2007 06:33 PM

comment #17

erniesouchak says ...

The movie is slick, flash over substance. I hope the academy ignores it.

Posted by erniesouchak at October 31, 2007 06:42 PM

comment #18

D.Z. says ...

If you got time, I got the following e-mail from Don Cheadle:

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It follows the achievements of a Darfuri woman, a community leader in West Darfur, a UCLA graduate, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, a U.N. humanitarian aid worker, and an actor and activist (me).

What: Darfur Now, a documentary about six people making a difference in Darfur
When: Opens this Friday, November 2

Showtimes and Location:

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As you may know, a film's opening weekend is extremely important and determines the exposure it gets. Darfur Now opens this weekend, but only in New York and Los Angeles. Come watch the movie and bring your friends so we can ensure a nationwide release, help educate people about the crisis in Darfur, and empower them to help end it.

Posted by D.Z. at October 31, 2007 06:42 PM

comment #19