Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

FIND ME GUILTY (R)

MOVIE BIASES: Vin, come baaaack. Please come back to Acting!

MAJOR PLAYERS: Vin Diesel (The Pacifier), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent), and co-writer/director Sidney Lumet (The Verdict)

Remember when Vin Diesel was an ACTOR? Don't worry, I do. For every "The Pacifier" and "A Man Apart," he's hadï¿½well, just "Boiler Room" and "Saving Private Ryan." After getting a taste of that good Hollywood money, The Diesel seemed content with turning himself into the Action Star Du Jour, starting (but not continuing) the action franchises "Fast and the Furious," "XXX," and "Chronicles of Riddick." Well after critical lambasting that made cashing those eight figure
checks just a little bit harder (but not much, I'm sure), Vin has decided it was time to return to acting. Welcome back to the fold, Vinny boy.

Based on a true story with actual court testimony, "Find Me Guilty" is about the longest criminal trial in United States history, the U.S. Government versus the Lucchese crime family. Spanning 21 months from 1987-88, the Lucchese trial had 76 charges, 20 attorneys, and 20 defendants. The most charismatic defendant of all, relentless jokester Jack "I'm a gagster, not a gangster" DiNorscio (Diesel), already in the midst of serving his own 30 year bid, is offered several deals to
rat out his friends in order to shorten his sentence ("Jackie D. don't rat. Jackie D. don't EVER rat."). Despite the defendants' apparent distancing themselves from Jackie, DiNorscio tries to remain loyal as well as effective, acting as his own lawyer in hopes his naturally genial stand-up routine will win over the jurors, and his own
estranged "family."

Lumet does his part, infusing the production with a jazzy, light soundtrack and plenty of '80s' Members Only jackets. But while there are some credible, stalwart performances and performers (Peter Dinklage's terrific, ship-steadying defense lawyer comes to mind along with Linus Roache's obsessed, occasionally stark raving mad prosecutor who goes nutty after 500 days of trial), make no mistake that "Guilty" isn't just a Vin Diesel vehicle, it's a Vin Diesel eighteen wheeler.

Paunchy, graying, receding-hairlined with a zesty sauce of a goombah growl, Diesel's DiNorscio is a playful, engaging tiger of a personality who, truly, is all about loving everybody. No pushover either, Jackie enflames and entertains the court with his unorthodox, untrained brand of legal eagling. So it truly is fascinating to watch
how Diesel's Jackie morphs from an uncontrollable wild card ("You're going to be the first person to be disbarred without ever being a lawyer in the first place.") into a credible, exciting barrister. With his pizza slice-thick Noo Yawk accent, effortless smile, and infectious energy, Diesel makes the most of a nifty, deftly entertaining and dramedic (yes, I know it's not a real word) script by Lumet and T.J. Mancini & Robert J. McCrea. Able to turn on the charm as well as the sympathy at will with lines like "I'm not guilty, but I'm used to it" and "I guess if you're Italian, you should be in prison," Vin makes a triumphant return to Acting, with a capital "A".

I caught The Dieseled One backstage at an awards show recently. Mentioned to him that I saw "Find Me Guilty" and really liked his performance. He seemed genuinely pleased, no, relieved even, that someone was complimenting him on his ACTING. The man was sincerely grateful and left me feeling good about his commitment to the craft. Looks like Vin Diesel, the actor, may be here to stay after all. This movie is for those of you who forgot just how good it was to have him - and how good it is now to have him back.

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare FIND ME GUILTY (R) MOVIE BIASES: Vin, come baaaack. Please come back to Acting! MAJOR PLAYERS: Vin Diesel (The Pacifier), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent), and co-writer/director Sidney Lumet (The Verdict) Remember when Vin Diesel was an ACTOR? Don't worry, I do. For every "The Pacifier" and "A Man Apart," he's hadï¿½well, just "Boiler Room" and "Saving Private Ryan." After getting a taste of that good Hollywood money, The Diesel seemed content with turning himself into the Action Star Du Jour, starting (but not continuing) the action franchises "Fast and the Furious," "XXX," and "Chronicles of Riddick." Well after critical lambasting that made cashing those eight figure checks just a little bit harder (but not much, I'm sure), Vin has decided it was time to return to acting. Welcome back to the fold, Vinny boy. Based on a true story with actual court testimony, "Find Me Guilty" is about the longest criminal trial in United States history, the U.S. Government versus the Lucchese crime family. Spanning 21 months from 1987-88, the Lucchese trial had 76 charges, 20 attorneys, and 20 defendants. The most charismatic defendant of all, relentless jokester Jack "I'm a gagster, not a gangster" DiNorscio (Diesel), already in the midst of serving his own 30 year bid, is offered several deals to rat out his friends in order to shorten his sentence ("Jackie D. don't rat. Jackie D. don't EVER rat."). Despite the defendants' apparent distancing themselves from Jackie, DiNorscio tries to remain loyal as well as effective, acting as his own lawyer in hopes his naturally genial stand-up routine will win over the jurors, and his own estranged "family." Lumet does his part, infusing the production with a jazzy, light soundtrack and plenty of '80s' Members Only jackets. But while there are some credible, stalwart performances and performers (Peter Dinklage's terrific, ship-steadying defense lawyer comes to mind along with Linus Roache's obsessed, occasionally stark raving mad prosecutor who goes nutty after 500 days of trial), make no mistake that "Guilty" isn't just a Vin Diesel vehicle, it's a Vin Diesel eighteen wheeler. Paunchy, graying, receding-hairlined with a zesty sauce of a goombah growl, Diesel's DiNorscio is a playful, engaging tiger of a personality who, truly, is all about loving everybody. No pushover either, Jackie enflames and entertains the court with his unorthodox, untrained brand of legal eagling. So it truly is fascinating to watch how Diesel's Jackie morphs from an uncontrollable wild card ("You're going to be the first person to be disbarred without ever being a lawyer in the first place.") into a credible, exciting barrister. With his pizza slice-thick Noo Yawk accent, effortless smile, and infectious energy, Diesel makes the most of a nifty, deftly entertaining and dramedic (yes, I know it's not a real word) script by Lumet and T.J. Mancini & Robert J. McCrea. Able to turn on the charm as well as the sympathy at will with lines like "I'm not guilty, but I'm used to it" and "I guess if you're Italian, you should be in prison," Vin makes a triumphant return to Acting, with a capital "A". I caught The Dieseled One backstage at an awards show recently. Mentioned to him that I saw "Find Me Guilty" and really liked his performance. He seemed genuinely pleased, no, relieved even, that someone was complimenting him on his ACTING. The man was sincerely grateful and left me feeling good about his commitment to the craft. Looks like Vin Diesel, the actor, may be here to stay after all. This movie is for those of you who forgot just how good it was to have him - and how good it is now to have him back. @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2004, Edwardo Jackson