Set among the Italian-American community of Manhattan and adapted by Vincent Patrick from his own novel, 1984's The Pope of Greenwich Village just about gets by on its charm. It stars Mickey Rourke as Charlie, a small-time grafter who is on the point of making his big move and breakaway. Unfortunately, the pull of family ties means that he's hampered by his cousin Paulie (Eric Roberts), an ambitious and excitable idiot who manages to cock up absolutely everything he turns his hand to, bringing down Charlie with him every time. After he gets the pair of them sacked... from a restaurant, Paulie helps set up a safecracking deal with older hand Kenneth MacMillan. Trouble is, theyre robbing the local mafia boss. Rourke and Roberts' relationship is modelled closely on that of Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro in Scorcese's Mean Streets, only without quite the same harrowing consequences. This being the 1980s there's much De Niro-esque methodology, which generally consists of repeating lines at least twice ("Fix your tie! Fix your tie!"). The element of improv sees the film veer off course occasionally, while Darryl Hannah is her usual oddly semi-detached self in the role of Rourke's girlfriend. However, it's Roberts' performance as the exasperating and energetic Paulie which carries the film, with solid support from numerous Goodfellas and Sopranos regulars. On the DVD: The Pope of Greenwich Village arrives on disc in a decent enough but hardly pristine print. The sole extra is the original trailer, which means the only real benefit of acquiring this on DVD is storage convenience. --David Stubbs [show more]
Filmed and set in the early eighties on location in Manhattan, long suffering Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and third cousin Paulie (Eric Roberts) are fired from their respective jobs due to Paulie's incompetence.
There are no car chases or explosions.
What remains is a pleasing and evocative story about these two central characters and their attempt to get their hands on some cash.
These actors are in their youth and all give reassuringly to their job for this piece, touches of comedy are present but fail to interrupt the flow of the plotline. The story does not revolve about the robbery but about living in Manhattan in general.
Paulie is not in contention to win any literacy prizes and Charlie often falls foul of Paulies antics.They enjoy expensive suits and fine Italian cuisine and are not averse to helping themselves to their employers profits.Charlie is a Resturant Manager and Paulie is a Waiter.
They're small time and through this portrayal that they ar not career criminals the viewer can empathise with them from the start.
Through Paulie's well intentioned deception they rob a warehouse which belongs to a rather unsavoury and vicious underworld individual,masterfully played throughout by all involved the film is enjoyable and entertaining.Towards the end Paulies nervousness is evident and a reckoning is on the cards.
I bought this the other day and watched for the first time in 20 years, it was a real pleasure to enjoy it all over again.
10/10.
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Mickey Rourke stars as Charlie, a hustler on New York's Lower East Side, who can't keep a handle on his tearaway cousin Paulie (Eric Roberts). The pair hope to find a way to get rich quick, but when they try to steal a small safe the plan backfires and gets them in trouble with mafia kingpin Bed Bug Eddie (Burt Young). A grisly punishment now awaits the unlucky duo, one that even their mobster uncle can't save them from.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play DVD Special Features Original theatrical trailer Interactive menu screens and chapter selections
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