Considering The Driller Killer, Ms.45and Bad Lieutenant, this one takes more a King of New York direction, just on a much smaller scale. A lot of drama. Religion and family histories come into play, and the repercussions of crimings in the Depression era.
1930s, three brothers, the youngest one lays in the casket. They were not exactly the most upstanding citizens, it seems. And while the family grieves, Ray (Walken) and middle brother Chez (Penn) know there will be revenge for their kid brother Johnny’s cold-blooded killing. The obvious candidate is a rival in town. Flashbacks reveal what led to the Funeral. Choices are made, regardless what it means for the happiness of their families or salvation of their souls.
Weird to cast both Annabella Sciorra and Isabella Rossellini in the same film, I always thought it was the same chick. This proves me wrong! Besides that, continues my questions regarding Chris Penn as an actor. He’s adequate here I guess. Decent small role by Benicio del Toro, a year after The Usual Suspects. But Walken is definitely the anchor of the film here, enveloping all the themes as the tale plays out. Not quite the ending you’d expect. Decent enough straightforward drama, Ferrara does a good job with it as the period piece that it is, nothing particularly flashy about it.
