william askinazi

This epic tale of the rise of a war hero, insensitive to killings, into the highest ranks of organized crime weaves a tapestry of essential issues of family fidelity, morality, politics, religion and social structure. Joe Pesci is quietly hypnotic as the senior mob boss. Pacino perfectly plays a brash, aggressive Hoffa and tracks his abrupt demise. Three scenes are instant classics: 1) the sitdown with Hoffa and Tony Pro with simmering dialogue about being late to a meeting; 2) the Wedding scene- what else?- as sidebars determine the fate of Hoffa and 3) Frank's parting reflections to clergy on his misdeeds. What a picture!!