Change Your Image
kokkinoskitrinosmple
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Ena votsalo sti limni... (1952)
An important step for Greek cinema
Manolis is an ordinary man who can't enjoy himself or have a good time because his life is ruled by money. One night he meets temptation and all his principles go out the the window.
Ena votsalo sti limni is one of the finest examples of '50s Greek cinema, characterised by such bittersweet movies. It balances comedic and dramatic elements, offering a fascinating insight into the human condition. One difference that sets it apart from its contemporaries is the social context. It doesn't focus on poor people who struggle to make a living. Instead, its characters become acquainted with a new lifestyle, glamorous and unfamiliar ways of entertainment. The Greek countryside, culture and tradition give way to an urban, "international" landscape. Also, it has to said it's remarkably brave for a movie of its time to feature adultery as one of its main themes.
The music is lovely, too especially the song Ala, anoixe ki alli mpoukala.
La dolce vita (1960)
The pursuit of happiness
The central character is a journalist who comes across a great variety of people who all want something different from life - and more or less each time the dreams of the night are being taken away by the dawn. He encounters the young (the girl in the tavern who wants to go back home), the old (his dad who feels way younger than his actual age and longs a corresponding lifestyle), the intellectuals (Stainer and company who desperately try to grasp the concept of happiness and the meaning of life and when he fails to do so, he resorts to extreme measures), the aristocrats (his rich friend/lover of sorts who is fascinated by the lifestyle of a prostitute and all her peers who spend their time in a ridiculously absurd party), the struck by fate (they suffer from some illness and are waiting for a miracle. And if that doesn't come, they will make it happen), the glamorous (the cinema star/ultimate sex symbol who is always looking for a new adventure). All sorts of people, really.
And in the center of it all stand Marcello and his fiancé. All she wants is someone by her side to love and be loved, but she can't have that, not with him at least, that's Marcello's idea of hell, his spirit is trapped and he wants to break free.
Marcello, on the other hand, is back to square one after all these experiences and interactions or perhaps even more confused compared to where he was at the start. He remains clueless and his seemingly endless wandering ends in the sea, just like in La Strada. He can't find anywhere what he is looking for, so he hopes the sea might provide some answers, but sadly to no avail.
By the way, this hopeless quest for happiness and for meaning in life is somewhat reminiscent of Hemingway's characters, especially the main one in The Sun Also Rises.
In terms of style, he sidesteps his neorealistic roots in favour of a surreal, ecstatic, Dionysian spectacle.
8½ (1963)
A movie about movies
8 1/2 is a movie about movies, the creative process behind filmmaking through the eyes of a director. Guido, who could be considered Fellini's alter ego, has to balance his associates and everyone else who wants to have a say in it, the struggles in his personal life, the internal conflict, the self-doubt, the search for inspiration, the subconscious, which is the hiding place of his fantasies, and the memories of the past. In the end, the lines become blur, his life is the movie and the movie is his life.
This is Fellini's most artistically ambitious attempt, even more so than LA Dolce Vita.
Some extremely memorable scenes and images (for example the opening where he tries to escape to the sky only to be pulled back to the Earth at the very last moment or the first flashback to his childhood where the famous Asa Nisi Masa phrase is born or his "harem" fantasy or the final parade) but as a whole it makes for a more challenging viewing experience than La Dolce Vita, not as cohesive or outright entertaining.
La strada (1954)
Gelsomina, the silent clown
La Strada tells a seemingly simple story that explores the depths of the human psyche. It has some similarities with other Italian (and Greek, too) movies of the time. It deals with a heavy subject matter and adds light and humorous touches. It features the pastoral landscapes of the Italian countryside and many elements of the Italian culture and tradition. It focuses on everyday people living in extreme poverty, struggling to make a living. They were born cursed and there is no way to escape their fate, even though they are always on the road. Climbing the social or financial ladder is a no-no.
The main character, Gelsomina, belongs to that category. Her family trades her for 10.000 lire and she will accompany Zampano, a nomadic artist, a man barbaric in stature and manners. She hates it at first, but slowly gets used to it. It's some sort of Stockholm Syndrome, but it's also the aforementioned thing about fate. As she says, what difference does it make where -and with whom- she goes? She can't be useful to anyone. And if you aren't useful you aren't loved, that's how the world works, or at least that's her perception of it, as was evidenced by her mother's decision to sell her. The comparison between Gelsomina and the silent clown is on point and it goes way beyond the physical appearance, they both feel the bittersweet need to please people, even if that means hurting themselves in the process. Another major factor that contributes to her decision is a conversation she has with another artist, the Fool, in the middle of the night, which gets quite philosophical and is arguably the key point and the highlight of the movie. He convinces her that everything in the world serves a purpose - the alternative that nothing serves a purpose is too scary - and she concludes that her purpose is to be with Zampano. Maybe he even cares for her, as he went after her when she left. Things are good for a while - from her point of view at least, though her standards are painfully low - until a violent incident breaks her for good. From that moment on the movie takes a devastating turn. Zampano turns into a tragic figure, as he realises what he had and slipped through his fingers. The movie does a great job at showing how the same actions don't have a similar effect as they used to. He follows his typical routine, the world keeps spinning and life goes on, except it doesn't. He is still performing in a local circus, but it's someone else who plays the trumpet instead of Gelsomina and someone else who does the acrobatics instead of the Fool, his visit to the local bar/restaurant doesn't end with love, but with a brawl. And the sea can't provide any comfort, redemption or answer.
On a final note, it has to be said that the movie wouldn't have been the same without the phenomenal music that essentially makes each scene memorable.
Ladri di biciclette (1948)
The peak of Italian neo-realism
Bicycle thieves is the prime example of Italian neo-realism, so very simple yet incredibly effective. It features a heavy socio-political background, focusing on people who are dealt a bad hand by fate and there is hardly a way out. During his quest, Antonio visits the police, the church, even a fortune teller, all to no avail.
It also raises ethical points about justice and crime. The central character is a relatable figure for millions of people, an everyday man. If he can become a thief, all of us could as well. Even the "Villain", the alleged bicycle thief, shares many things in common to our hero.
And of course the father and son relationship is another key theme, how the former has to act as a role model, but sometimes resort to desperate measures in order to provide for his family. The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly Antonio's fight with temptation.
The setting is a major player, too, Rome is depicted as a city destroyed by war.
The music is also highly memorable and does a great job at enhancing the tragedy that takes place on screen.
Despite the heartbreaking nature of the movie, there are also light and humorous touches.
Fruitvale Station (2013)
The struggles of an everyday man
Fruitvale Station is a movie that takes place in a single day, which always makes for an interesting concept, especially when that day is the protagonist's last one.
The greatest thing about it is that Oscar Grant isn't presented as a hero. He is a simple, everyday man, flawed and relatable, struggling to deal with the challenges life throws his way. One could say the primary focus is the personal drama, not the socio-political commentary, which makes for a refreshing change compared to other movies with similar subjects.
Visually, the movie avoids anything spectacular, stylish or fancy. It chooses "shaky" and effective camera work to portray the grim reality of police brutality and racial injustice.
Rise (2022)
The power of family
Giannis Antetokounmpo is an inspiring role model for millions of people across the globe, but his real story is much more powerful than this movie.
Rise is a a typical feel-good movie with some good messages such as the meaning of family or the value of never giving up and following your dream no matter what. This approach is understandable, it's Disney after all, but the result isn't as impactful as it could have been. The difficulties were understated and it plays out like a fairy tale. Still, every Giannis fan will feel satisfied, proud, even emotionally overwhelmed during the final moments of the movie, where some real-life footage is played.
On a side note, it felt weird that the parents never seemed to age a day, even though 20 years passed.
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
Using human tragedy to make a movie
Hotel Mumbai can't be faulted at a technical level, yet it's not clear what the point of such a movie is. What's the message or the artistic reasons behind it? Were the slaughter portrayed here purely fictional and it still would have been a painful experience watching a massacre non-stop for two hours. Knowing that it's based on real life events only makes matters worse.
Another element of the movie that leaves a bad impression has to do with the fact that about 90 percent of the people that were killed or injured were Indians, yet it focuses on a bunch of white dudes.
The heroics of the hotel employees are truly commendable, but it's hard to feel good about anything after this chaos, even themselves would rather forget it.
The movie's commentary on the roots of terrorism, showing it as a well-organised network that manipulates young people in the name of religion, is its most interesting part.
Philomena (2013)
The tragedy of a mother and an impossible friendship
Philomena is based on a true story and it definitely holds educational value, as it spreads information about the practice of a Catholic convent that used young girls who got pregnant practically as slaves and sold their kids for a hefty price.
The main strengths of the movie, however, lie elsewhere. One of them is the partnership of Philomena and Martin and the impossible friendship (somewhat reminiscent of The King's Speech, Green Book or Intouchables) that develops despite the differences in their personalities, background and pretty much anything else. Philomena is an average woman with a large heart and an incredible ability to empathise and forgive. Martin has lost his job and is a cynical, no-nonsense kind of guy.
Another one is of course the mother and son relationship. A great thing about it is that it doesn't overplay the tragedy of the main character and avoids any cheap melodrama. It's also quite unpredictable and the quest for her son doesn't unfold as one would expect.
The humour wasn't always spot on, but helped achieving a more balanced tone.
The Nutty Professor (1996)
Humour of the lowest possible level
The concept of The Nutty Professor is outright ridiculous and makes no sense whatsoever. However, that's something secondary in a comedy and one should be able to look past that as long as the movie serves its purpose, which is obviously to provide a good laugh. And that's where the main problem lies, in its sense of humour. Of course stuff like that is a matter of taste and it's easy to imagine there's an audience that actually enjoys it, but one has to be warned it's humour of the lowest possbile level that hardly requires any brain cells to be understood, with a variety of cheap, borderline disgusting "jokes" that are mostly focusing on subjects such as passing gas, being fat (oh, the irony!), an old woman with a high libido, etc.
Togo (2019)
An entertaining adventure for a family movie night
Togo tells a story that is simple and somewhat predictable, but quite powerful nonetheless. The touching relationship between humans and animals, the courage and sheer determination to overcome any challenge that is displayed both by Seppala and by Togo and of course the spectacular, breathtaking action scenes are some of its obvious strengths. A smaller but thought-provking part of the movie deals with a journalist who documents Balto as the hero instead of Togo. It might seem irrelevant for him, as he just wants to cover the story, but the influence of that action can't be underestimated, as he essentially wrote the history at that moment. On the other hand, the drama between Seppala and his wife doesn't offer that much and leaves something to be desired. All in all, an exciting, fascinating adventure that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989)
Mother and son
My Left Foot tells the story of Christy Brown, a man who was born with cerebral palsy but used his left foot, the only limb of his he could control, to become a writer and painter.
The narrative starts as Christy is about to receive an award and various episodes of his life are recalled while he is waiting. His childhood was tough. Not only was he part of a large and poor family, he was also viewed as intellectually disabled, as he had no way of expressing himself yet. It's the love of his family and especially his mother that kept him going. Later, a researcher in the subject of CP sparks his interest in the arts, literature and painting, so he finds a meaning in life and an outlet for his creative and brilliant mind. The bad thing with hope, though, is that it can be shattered and that's exactly what happens when he mistakes her interest in him as more than platonic. The realisation leads to his outburst and what is possibly the most painful scene of the movie. Present day Christy isn't in high spirits either, struggling with alcoholism and loneliness.
The movie makes for a difficult watching experience and that's arguably its greatest strength. It doesn't glorify or overly dramatise the situation, neither does it present Christy as a saint, it keeps it real and isn't afraid to show his flaws. That's why the happy ending feels like striking a false note.
Daniel Day-Lewis is absolutely phenomenal and deserved the Oscar win, but credit must go to Brenda Fricker who portrayed his mother and Hugh O'Conor who portrayed the younger version of Christy as well, the movie couldn't have worked without them, as the mother-son relationship lies at the heart of the movie.
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Father and son
The crucial events of In the Name of the Father are triggered by an I. R. A. Bombing. The movie also shows the disgusting methods the police officers use during interrogation and the incompetence of the legal system. Still, providing socio-political commentary is far from its main objective.
Instead, it is mostly concerned with telling the story of Gerry Conlon, the man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and as a result was sentenced to a life in prison. More specifically, it focuses on how this experience changed him. Before all the chaos, he was a young, carefree man who would spend his time with some hippies, he was a small time crook with no real goal in life other than having a good time. The contrast to what happens after is as stark as it gets. After he gets dragged out of his bed and torturously questioned in what feels like a surreal nightmare, he ends up in a cell, where his state of mind goes through various stages. At first, he gives up any hope and all he does is hate himself, his bad luck, the system, everything and everyone. When Joe, a fellow Irishman arrives, one who is an actual member of I. R. A., he sees some light and believes justice can be earned through radical and violent means. That's until Joe resorts to extreme measures and Gerry realises there is another way, the one his father follows. And that's another massive theme of the movie, the father-son relationship. Initially, they are worlds apart. In the end, they are real family. Major props to Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite who made it work. Credit goes to Emma Thompson as well, who portrays Gareth Peirce, the attorney who goes all out to prove their innocence.
The obvious complaint to be made is that the movie lacks a bit in historical accuracy.
One could also argue the movie occasionally loses its focus, but there are many powerful and memorable scenes that more than make up for it. Examples include the opening scene, where Gerry gets caught stealing and all hell breaks loose, the prisoners paying tribute to Gerry's dad, Gareth's fiery speech, and of course most scenes between Gerry and his dad.
The Help (2011)
Feel-good movie about an important time period
The Help is a highly entertaining and informative movie that recalls an ugly time period while succesfully combining humorous and emotional moments, but is too focused on delivering its message and pleasing the audience that it loses its sense of subtlety.
The most obvious case of that is Hilly, the villain, who is nothing more than a caricature.
Skeeter is the central character but this isn't her story, neither does she fully justify her screen time. For example, her relationship with that guy didn't make much sense. He acts like an idiot and she tells him off. Then he apologises and for some reason she just accepts it and it's suddenly all good until he shows his true colours again. Funnily enough, it's her mother who actually has the most interesting character development in the family.
On the other hand, the two maids, Aibileen and Minny, easily steal the show, typical instances of people whose lives are defined by race and class. Celia is another character with her own arc that eventually overlaps with the main plot. She is also a victim of prejudice in a slighty different way.
One Life (2023)
A powerful, emotional and inspirational story
One Life tells the incredible true story of Sir Nicholas Winton, the man who saved 669 Jewish children. He helped them escape Prague just before WWII was declared and the borders closed by overcoming the bureaucratic barriers and finding foster families in England.
It's hard to judge such a movie, because the story itself is so powerful and so emotional, that all it has to do is stick to the basics and achieve the desired outcome nonetheless. And that's exactly the case here. Still, it offers a valuable life lesson and provides a source of inspiration, showing what difference "one life" can make.
8 Mile (2002)
A rap version of the American Dream
8 Mile is a sort of autobiographical movie, showing Jimmy (a version of Eminem), a rapper trying to make it big despite everything working against him. He broke up with his girlfriend and gave her his car, meaning he now has to live with his mother who is about to lose her trailer home, not to mention he must tolerate her horrible boyfriend. He has an unambitious, unsatisfactory dead-end job and he must face prejudice and the race barrier in order to become a rapper.
The plot is somewhat predictable and follows a well-known formula. The movie's greatest success is its deconstruction of the American Dream. It creates a realistic, gritty world where young people are trapped and any attempt to escape seems hopeless. Its social commentary is more valuable than its underdog that defies the odds story.
The movie still manages to be quite funny, both during the rap battles but also when Jimmy hangs out with his friends. The dialogue and the chemistry between them makes the viewer feels as if he is one of them.
His girlfriend didn't add much, if anything she felt rather odd. Jimmy's relationship with his mother was much more interesting, though wasn't really developed as much as it could.
Lion (2016)
A movie of two halves
Lion tells the incredible yet true story of Saroo, a boy who got lost and reunited with his family 25 years later.
It is a movie of two halves. The first part shows how Saroo, played by Sunny Pawar, got separated from his mother and his older brother Guddu, travelled all the way to Calcutta, survived on the streets, went to an orphanage and finally got adopted by an Australian family. The second part shows an older version of Saroo, now played by Dev Patel, living a privileged and happy life, until the memories of his family start haunting him and he goes on an obsessive search for them using Google Earth as his main tool.
The first part is clearly the highlight. It captures the feeling of being alone, lost and frightened in a huge and hostile world. Also, Saroo's bond with his brother is relatively short but leaves a lasting impression. The second part isn't as powerful, the gap is too large and it doesn't feel like it's the same character. The key aspect here is his relationship with his foster mother, complicated but highly touching nonetheless. On the other hand, the presence of his girlfriend didn't offer that much -if anything. And of course the ending is extremely satisfying, inspiring and emotional.
Gold (2016)
Entertaining above anything else
Gold is a very entertaining adventure that shows the thrill of going after the gold fever, a rollercoaster with a lot of ups and a lot of downs.
The second major theme of the movie is greed and how it affects a man, both by going to great lengths to make it but also how he acts after he hits the big time. It could even be seen as a commentary on capitalism through its portrayal of Wall Street and all those big, voracious companies.
The central character Kenny Wells combines both worlds, though the movie tries too hard to make him look like a hero and as a result he leans more towards the first side. More of a visionairy adventurer, a fish fighting against sharks than a greedy hustler or a newly rich with excessively luxurious taste. That is kinda ironic, but the movie has clear crowd-pleasing intentions, it needs the audience to root for Kenny.
The rest of the characters barely get any development - even his closest partner, Michael Acosta, remains an enigma - and the movie overall moves extremely fast, trying to make sure it won't stop being entertaining even for a single second. The soundtrack also followed that commercial direction, a questionable decision.
The Imitation Game (2014)
Sometimes it's the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine
The Imitation Game, a movie about Alan Turing, is far from the typical biopic.
The one thing that immediately stands out are the three different timelines and how it manages to hold a nice balance between them.
In 1928, a young Alan is a victim of bullying from his classmates but also discovers his homosexual nature. That is the shortest part, but it's essential in establishing Alan's background.
In 1939 he joins a task force assigned to crack the Enigma code used by the Germans. Solving the puzzle is far from the only challenge he faces. He has a hard time cooperating with his colleagues, who he views as inferior, not to mention his "boss" can't stand him and wants to get rid of him. On the bright side, he meets Joan Clarke. It's not a romance in the traditional sense, but they form a touching relationship that provides much needed comfort to Alan and helps him in many ways, social and scientific. This part combines the thrill of racing against the clock (thanks to good editing images of war are used to show how it progresses and the situation is getting more and more desperate), the politcal games and conspiracies, a couple of comedic moments and of course a more human, emotional element that is based on the aforementioned relationship between Alan and Joan.
In 1951 his dark secret is revealed. Instead of being honoured as a war hero, he is ridiculed and forced to choose between prison and chemical castration. This is by far the saddest and most painful part of the movie.
Benedict Cumberbatch proves once again he is at the top of his game portraying brilliant, socially incompetent, arrogant yet melancholic figures.
The movie delivers a powerful message regarding tolerance and prejudice that is best summed up in its catchphrase: "Sometimes it's the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine".
Tombstone (1993)
Doc Holiday steals the show
Tombstone's plot isn't that original. The bad guys terrorise the city, the good guys initially try to resolve matters peacefully, but when things get out of control, they are out for revenge and it gets wild.
It features tons of action in typical Western fashion that will satisfy any fan of the genre. Beyond the gunfights, however, there isn't much of note. The character development leaves a lot to be desired. The villains are a joke, the women are barely present with only one exception, the romance doesn't really go anywhere, etc.
The one thing that makes the movie stand out is Doc Holiday, a suffering from tuberculosis aristocrat whose hobbies include drinking, gambling - both in incredibly unhealthy doses - and being the fastest gunslinger around. He is the only interesting character of the bunch. Not only does he have the coolest lines, but he is the one the audience cares and roots for, especially as the end is approaching. Props to Val Kilmer for stealing the show.
The Way Back (2010)
Walk your way to survival
The Way Back's main theme is the man's struggle against nature, the will to fight a seemingly hopeless, losing battle in order to survive. Many movies with a similar concept have been done before. Rescue Dawn would be an obvious point of comparison, as it also involved prison escapees and was based on a true story, but the list is endless (e.g. Into The White, The Mountain Between Us, The Revenant, Cast Away, 127 Hours).
Still, The Way Back's incredible story is definitely worth telling, as some people pulled off the amazing feat of escaping a Siberian prison and walking all the way to India, their land of freedom.
The movie adopts a documentarish apporach, focusing on the extreme conditions they faced. As a result, it lacks in dramatic tension and character development. On the other hand, the movie's strength lies in its cinematography, the landscapes are undoubtedly its major asset. It should come as no surprise that National Geographic is among the production companies.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Inspiring movie with a powerful message that lacks an edge
Hidden figures tells the story of three women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who not only worked but left their mark in NASA. They did that not only thanks to their brilliant minds but also because of their sheer determination to overcome racism, sexism and any other obstacle that would come their way.
The movie is truly inspiring and sends a powerful message. Still, it doesn't really excite or challenge the viewer. Maybe its light note and the feel-good vibe don't allow it to show anything edgy, such as the real, ugly face of racism or maybe it's the simple and straightforward nature of the characters (the three women feel more like heroines or symbols rather than real people) and the story (the concept of the underdog that defies the odds isn't that original and has been done countless times before) or maybe space race isn't that interesting of a subject, especially if one hasn't experienced it first hand.
The cast did a fine job with the exception of Jim Parsons who went over the top as a villain and felt out of place.
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Father and daughter relationship
Saving Mr. Banks' plot revolves around P. L. Travers' reluctancy to allow Walt Disney to adapt Marry Poppins into a movie and the latter's persistent efforts to convince her to do so.
The flashback scenes are nicely done and that's probably the main factor that elevates this movie to a higher standard, as it deviates from the typical biopic formula. They show a lot in little time, namely all the key events in Travers' childhood -her relationship with her dad being in the centre of it all- that shaped her personality and her artistic identity, as they inspired her to create Mary Poppins, Mr. Banks and everyone else. Some parts of the movie's "present" time are explained through those flashbacks, for example her dislike towards pears. Most importantly, though, it becomes clear why she feels so close to her characters and wants to protect them from the dangers of the big screen. They are not mere characters to her, they are her past, her life.
Saving Mr. Banks is a family, feel-good movie and as a result maintains a relatively light tone, but still keeps the balance between its humorous (Travers' disdain for anything American or glamorous), nostalgic (playing with her dad), poignant (her dad's alcoholism and illness) and touching (her relationship with her driver, singing and dancing to Let's Fly a Kite, her reaction after watching the movie) parts.
Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage (2005)
Documentary-like movie with a powerful message
Sophie Scholl is an informative, historically accurate movie with a powerful and inspiring message regarding a woman's ultimate fight for freedom and for her beliefs while posing questions concerning the dfferent faces of justice, law and morality, but it feels more like a documentary, there's hardly any excitement, tension or drama, it's monotonous and Sophie is a more of a symbol rather than a character.
The movie focuses on Sophie Scholl's heroic stance during her interrogation by Robert Mohr. At first she denies everything and when she realises there's no way out she takes all the responsibility and protects her comrades. There were some nice moments, but extending her questioning to almost an entire movie's length was a bit too much.
Also, the opening scenes left a bad impression. The way they got arrested was quite stupid, which made her admirable sacrifice lose a bit of its impact, she could have done so much more if she had kept her cool for one moment.
A Bronx Tale (1993)
The saddest thing in life is wasted talent
A Bronx Tale is a nostalgic love letter to an era and area long gone. There are no neighbourhoods like that today. That becomes even more clear if one takes into account that Bronx wasn't used as a filming location because it didn't look like that anymore.
It is also the coming of age story of Calogero, an Italian-American boy who grows up torn between two father figures. His dad is a simple, caring, working class man who tries his best to provide for his family and believes in doing things the hard way, which is also the right way. His motto is "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent". Sonny, the local mob boss, thinks that the working man is a sucker. He prefers the world of crime, where everything is easy. He employs Machiavellian techniques, as he believes it's better to be feared than loved or respected. "Nobody cares" is his catchphrase. By the way it was a pleasant surprise seeing Robert DeNiro in the role of the former instead of the latter.
Calogero soon goes the wrong way, having Sonny as his role model, not to mention the bad influence of his friends, as peer pressure can dominate a teenager's life. But the movie doesn't present Calogero's internal conflict in a simplistic, black/white, good/bad manner, both men have some valuable life lessons to offer. Things get even more complicated when he meets an African American girl and themes of prejudice and tolerance are introduced.
A Bronx Tale is a really enjoyable movie that can be sweet, touching, vibrant, funny, entertaining, thought-provoking and much more.