A BRONX TALE (1993) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Robert De Niro

Written by - Chazz Palminteri

Starring - Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri

"ROBERT DE NIRO's directorial debut is at once graceful and gritty. A rich and powerful coming of age drama that explores the tense relationship between a concerned father for his son after he befirends of a group of Bronx gangsters. 

But A BRONX TALE is also widely driven by a WEST SIDE STORY type of narrative in which the son also falls for a black woman, which was frowned upon by his peers in the midst of the racial conflict of the sixties. 

In his debut behind the camera, DE NIRO borrows a thing or two from SCORSESE's visual vividness. But through the complex and meticulous crane and tracking shots composed by REYNALDO VILLALOBOS, one can once again sense the influence from the visual style of WEST SIDE STORY, that after all is directly referenced in the title, as well as the GOODFELLAS vibes that inevitably come out of the gangster subplot. Therefore, it admirably ties a traditionalist type of cinema with a fresh and modern tone. 

A BRONX TALE was written by CHAZZ PALMINTERI, who adapted it from his own play, who also stars as the kid's alternative father figure, antagonist to ROBERT DE NIRO, who plays the kid's real father. Their antagonism serves a purpose in introducing a further intense subplot which is skillfully balanced by DE NIRO's direction and shows the richness of the screenplay, which only occasionally falters when it tries it comes across as heavy handedly moralistic. 

Nevertheless, there is a subtle sensitivity that opposes the boldness and violence of the study of the Bronx as it is presented here that is downright praise worthy, and of course a note worthy directing debut by one of cinema's all time most revered actors."

Drama, USA