Verdict
Summary
Fairly simplistic as a mob drama, Lookin’ Italian keeps things pretty low key as an indie effort with two solid leads in the central roles. Very well cast, the film is populated with familiar faces and lots of very pretty girls (look for Denise Richards in her first movie), but what keeps the film watchable is the perfectly paired Acovone and LeBlanc, who both showed their acting chops in a smaller film. Writer / director Guy Magar delivered a solid little drama / thriller, and while it might not exactly be a stellar example of the subgenre of mob films, it’s pretty solid for what it was going for.
Plot:
A former mafioso tries to lead a quiet life, but his past catches up to hi when his nephew wants revenge for the death of a friend.
Review:
Vinny (Jay Acovone) used to be a mafia foot soldier who was involved in a wild shootout that saw the death of a bunch of people, and he was the last man standing, which garnered the respect of his “don” who allowed him to walk away from the life no strings attached. Years later, Vinny is living a quiet, humble life and runs a used book store in Los Angeles but he’s never quite far enough away from daily reminders of what he walked away from, especially when the don shows up and offers him a place back in the “family.” His handsome nephew Anthony (Matt LeBlanc the same year he become a star on Friends) comes to live with him in his apartment and work for him at the bookstore, but Anthony is a dimwitted lothario and would-be actor whose bed is never empty of gorgeous girls who come and go on a daily basis. When Anthony is out with some friends one night, a drive by shooting destroys the quiet life Vinny has been trying to lead because Anthony riles himself up to get revenge for the deaths of some of his friends, pulling Vinny out of retirement because the only way Anthony is going to survive his foolhardy plan of revenge is if his uncle Vinny protects him.
Fairly simplistic as a mob drama, Lookin’ Italian keeps things pretty low key as an indie effort with two solid leads in the central roles. Very well cast, the film is populated with familiar faces and lots of very pretty girls (look for Denise Richards in her first movie), but what keeps the film watchable is the perfectly paired Acovone and LeBlanc, who both showed their acting chops in a smaller film. Writer / director Guy Magar delivered a solid little drama / thriller, and while it might not exactly be a stellar example of the subgenre of mob films, it’s pretty solid for what it was going for.
Severin recently released a Blu-ray of Lookin’ Italian, and it comes in a strong 4K scan, looking vivid and sharp. Special features are aplenty.
Special Features
- Directin’ Italian – Interview With Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar
- Archival Interviews With Cast And Crew:
- – Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar
- – Actor Jay Acovone
- – Actor Matt LeBlanc
- – Actress Stephanie Richards
- – Actor Lou Rawls
- – Actor John LaMotta
- Q&A With Writer/Producer/Director Guy Magar And Actors Jay Acovone, Matt LeBlanc, Stephanie Richards And Ralph Manza From The 1994 Palm Springs International Film Festival
- Inside Edition Exclusive Look
- Behind The Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Trailer
