CBS Films recently send released film clips for the upcoming film "Last Vegas". The upcoming comedy stars Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. "Last Vegas" hits theaters on 11/1.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://lastvegasmovie.com

Plot Synopsis:

Starring four legends like you've never seen them before, LAST VEGAS tells the story of Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam (played by Academy-Award winners Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline), best friends since childhood. When Billy, the group's sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something (of course) girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it's these four who are taking over Vegas.

"Last Vegas" - Archie's Escape

"Last Vegas" - Where's the Pool?

"Last Vegas" - VIP Suite

"Last Vegas" - Official Trailer

Relativity Media recently released character posters for Luc Besson's upcoming dark action comedy "The Family". The upcoming film stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones. "The Family"hits theaters on 9/13.

For more information on this film, you can visit and "Like" the film's official Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TheFamilyMovie 

Plot Synopsis:

Stansfield’s (Tommy Lee Jones) best efforts to keep them in line, Fred Blake (Robert De Niro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and their children, Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo), can’t help resorting to old habits by handling their problems the “family” way. Chaos ensues as their former Mafia cronies try to track them down and scores are settled in the unlikeliest of settings, in this subversively funny film by Luc Besson.

The Family stars Academy Award® winners Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Silver Linings Playbook), and Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln, No Country for Old Men), Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, The Fabulous Baker Boys), Dianna Agron (“Glee,” I Am Number Four), and John D’Leo (The Wrestler, Brooklyn’s Finest). It is directed by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter). The screenplay is written by Luc Besson and Michael Caleo (“The Sopranos,” “Rescue Me”), based on Tonino Benacquista’s novel, Malavita.

Relativity Films recently released information reguarding production of Luc Besson's upcoming film "Malavita, which has already started. The film is set to star Oscar®-Winner Robert De Niro (Limitless, Heat), Oscar®-Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, People Like Us), Oscar®-Winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men, Men in Black), Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) and John D’Leo (The Wrestler, Wanderlust).

Press Release:

August 8, 2012 –Principal photography begins today on EuropaCorp and Relativity’s comedic actioner Malavita directed by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter) and starring Oscar®-Winner Robert De Niro (Limitless, Heat), Oscar®-Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, People Like Us), Oscar®-Winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men, Men in Black), Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) and John D’Leo (The Wrestler, Wanderlust).

Collaborating with Besson behind the scenes is a creative below-the-line team including: director of photography Thierry Arbogast (The Fifth Element), production designer Hugues Tissandier (Taken), sound editor Ken Yasumoto (The Transporter), costume designer Olivier Bériot (Taken) and editor Julien Rey (The Lady).

The darkly comedic action film Malavita is the story of the Manzonis, a notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, old habits die hard and they soon find themselves handling things the “family” way.

Filming commenced in Normandy and will continue in France at La Cité du Cinéma, where the brand new Studios de Paris are located. Additional shooting will take place in New York. The film will bow in 2013 with Relativity handling US distribution as well as working with its foreign output partners on the film’s release in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Greece, Thailand and CIS. EuropaCorp will take on distribution in France and handle international sales.

The script is adapted by Besson from the book Badfellas by author Tonino Benacquista. Virginie Besson-Silla (From Paris with Love) from EuropaCorp is producing. Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) is producing, while the studio's Tucker Tooley (Immortals) will executive produce.

Looking ahead, Relativity will release the edge-of-your seat thriller House at the End of the Street (in theatres September 21, 2012), the outrageous Movie 43 (in theatres January 25, 2013) and comedy 21 and Over (in theatres March 15, 2013). Relativity is currently in post-production on Scott Cooper’s gritty dramatic thriller currently-titled Out of the Furnace and is in production on the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling Safe Haven (in theatres February 8, 2013) and the corporate espionage thriller Paranoia (in theatres September 27, 2013).

EuropaCorp is currently in production on Taken 2 which it will distribute in France and with its partners in Germany, Scandinavia and Russia. Fox will handle the distribution of the film in the US and throughout its international distribution organization. The company is also in production on Mobius directed by Éric Rochant and starring Oscar®-Winner Jean DuJardin, Cécile De France and Tim Roth.

Nostromo Pictures recently has released stills for their upcoming film "Red Lights", which is playing at this years Sundance Film Festival. The film was recently picked up for U.S. Distribution by Millennium Entertainment. It's the third film for Rodrigo Cortes, who's last film "Buried" was released by Lionsgate in 2010. "Red Lights has an all-star cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Toby Jones, Joely Richardson, Elizabeth Olsen, Craig Roberts, Leonardo Sbaraglia and Adriane Lenox.

Plot Synopsis:

Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley, study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origins. Simon Silver, a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge to both orthodox science and professional sceptics. Tom starts to develop an intense obsession with Silver, whose magnetism becomes stronger with each new manifestation of inexplicable events. As Tom gets closer to Silver, tension mounts, and his worldview is threatened to its core.

Upcoming Screenings:

1/28/2012     5:15 pm      MARC      Park City        Box Office Only

Open Road Films recently released stills and the official trailer for their upcoming film "Killer Elite". This action film is inspired by true events and boast an very good cast that includes Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen. The film is also playing at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. "Killer Elite" will be hitting theaters in the US on September 23rd.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.killerelite.com

Plot Synopsis:

Inspired by true events, KILLER ELITE is an action-adventure spy film that follows Danny (Jason Statham), one of the world's most skilled special-ops agents. Lured out of self-imposed exile, Danny reassembles his crack team of operatives to execute a near-impossible mission of retribution- to rescue his former mentor and partner Hunter- (Robert De Niro). Together they must penetrate the highly feared and respected military unit, the British Special Air Service (SAS), to take down a rogue cell of soldier assassins and their leader Spike (Clive Owen) before their actions create a global crisis. KILLER ELITE’S whirlwind journey of action hurtles across the globe: from Mexico to Australia, from Paris and London to Oman and Wales. The film is based on Ranulph Fiennes’ controversial non-fiction bestseller “The Feather Men.”

Upcoming Screenings:

Saturday September 10th
Roy Thomson Hall
1:30pm
Toronto, Canada

Monday September 12th
Scotiabank Theatre 1
7:30pm
Toronto, Canada





"Killer Elite": Official Trailer

Focus Features recently send us information on the start of Paul Weitz's (About A Boy, Little Fockers) new film, which is based on Nick Flynn's 2004 memoir "Another Bulls**t Night in Suck City". The film stars Robert De Niro and Paul Dano.

Press Release

Production has begun, on East Coast locations, on a Focus Features drama from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Paul Weitz. The as-yet untitled film stars two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and is based on Nick Flynn’s 2004 memoir entitled Another Bulls—t Night in Suck City. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Mr. De Niro has been joined in the cast by Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), Spirit Award winner Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone), Emmy Award nominee Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), and four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore (Focus’ The Kids Are All Right). Mr. Weitz and Andrew Miano, both of the production company Depth of Field, are producing the film with Corduroy Films and with Mr. De Niro’s Tribeca Productions. The executive producers are Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal and Meghan Lyvers, Caroline Baron, and Depth of Field’s Kerry Kohansky.

Declan Quinn (Rachel Getting Married) is the cinematographer on the film, and Emmy Award winner Sarah Knowles (Warm Springs) is the production designer. Focus executive vice president, production and development Kahli Small and creative executive Christopher Kopp are supervising the project for president of production John Lyons.

The dramatic feature tells the story of a young writer, Nick (portrayed by Mr. Dano), who takes a job at a homeless shelter – where one night he discovers his long-absent father Jonathan (Mr. De Niro) seeking a bed. Ms. Moore portrays the writer’s mother Jody; and Ms. Thirlby portrays Denise, a worker at the shelter.

Mr. Schamus said, “Nick’s memoir was emotional, ruefully funny, and powerfully moving. Paul’s movie looks to honor Nick’s experiences – and his father’s. We are privileged to be working with these filmmakers and talent to tell this story.”

Mr. Weitz commented, “I’ve been working on this script for seven years, gone through 30 drafts, and I feel extremely lucky to be making this draft, with this cast, at this studio.”

Universal Pictures send us over information regarding the upcoming DVD and Blu -Ray release of the Ben Stiller/Robert Deniro comedy sequel "Little Fockers", which hits DVD and Blu-Ray on April 5th.

Press Release:

The funniest and most entertaining installment of one of the most popular comedic franchises in history, Little Fockers, comes to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand April 5, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more than a decade, the antics of the extended Focker-Byrnes family have kept audiences laughing and generated combined worldwide movie ticket sales of nearly $1 billion. Now the latest chapter in this hilarious family saga turns an eye toward another of life’s milestones – raising kids.

Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally begun to earn the respect of his ex-CIA father-in-law, Jack Byrnes (Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro) but one important test still lies ahead: can Greg prove that he has what it takes to be the family’s next ‘Godfocker?’ The sequel to the comedy blockbusters Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, Little Fockers reunites De Niro (Everybody’s Fine) and Stiller (Night at the Museum franchise) with Oscar® winners Dustin Hoffman (Kung Fu Panda) and Barbra Streisand (The Prince of Tides), Blythe Danner (Paul), Teri Polo (Beyond Borders) and Owen Wilson (How Do You Know). Jessica Alba (Machete), Laura Dern (Jurassic Park) and Harvey Keitel (The Piano) also join the cast in the funniest Focker family story yet.

Both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and the DVD are packed with extras, including deleted scenes, a hilarious gag reel, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Little Fockers and a never-before-seen alternate opening and ending not shown in theaters! The two-disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack offers fans three different ways to catch up with the Focker family. The set includes a Blu-ray™ and DVD copy of film; and for a limited time only, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on an array of electronic and portable devices anytime, anywhere.

Not only will Blu-ray™ purchasers be able to experience Little Fockers in spectacular high definition and with the purest sound available, they can also watch exciting Blu-ray™ exclusive featurettes with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Blu-ray ™ consumers can also access MY MOVIES™, an exclusive feature that allows consumers to stream a bonus movie of their choice instantly to their television through any Internet-connected Blu-ray ™ player via BD-Live™ or to their Smartphone and iPad™ using the free pocket BLU™ app. The bonus movie will be available for a limited time only.

Also available through MY MOVIES™, Blu-ray ™ owners can instantly rent a selection of Universal film favorites on their television, Smartphone, computer or iPad™ including hits such as Meet the Parents, Fast and Furious, Mamma Mia! and Coraline, at a price of $2.99. Visit UniversalHiDef.com for information on how to get started.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAYTM:
BLU-RAY™ EXCLUSIVE FEATURETTES:
Bob and Ben: Cast members Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reflect on their history and their characters’ evolution throughout the Meet the Parents trilogy.
Ben and Owen: On average, every 1.3 years Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller share the silver screen. Little Fockers marks their 10th movie together. In this dual interview, Ben and Owen reveal the secrets of their shared success.

BD-LIVE™ - Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers and more!
pocket BLU™: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, BlackBerry®, Nokia® Smartphone, Android™, PC and Mac® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Also available on the iPad®, owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablet's larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:

ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.

VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.

MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.

BROWSE TITLES: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.

KEYBOARD: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.

MY MOVIES™: Consumers can instantly stream a free bonus movie of their choice or choose to rent a variety of Universal favorites including Meet the Parents, Fast and Furious, Mamma Mia! and Coraline.

MY SCENES: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the film.

uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

DIGITAL COPY: Viewers can watch Little Fockers for a limited of time on an array of electronic and portable devices.

BLU-RAY AND DVD BONUS FEATURES:

GAG REEL
DELETED SCENES
NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ALTERNATE OPENING AND ENDING
BEHIND THE SCENES:

MAKING OF A GODFOCKER: A behind-the-scenes look at Little Fockers. Everyone’s back in this knock down, drag out third installment of the Meet the Parents Trilogy and this piece brings it all together. Featuring the return of cast members, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, Blythe Danner and Terri Polo and newcomers, Harvey Keitel, Jessica Alba and Laura Dern.

BOUT TIME: A fun behind-the-scenes look at the climatic fight scene where Greg and Jack finally throw down the gloves.

THE FOCKER FOOT LOCKER: A string of clips from the film of every time someone utters a version of “Focker.”

THEATRICAL TRAILERS AND MORE!

Rogue Pictures recently sent us over the official poster and trailer for the Bradley Cooper/ Robert De Niro thriller "Limitless", which hits theaters March 18th.

Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in Limitless, a paranoia-fueled action thriller about an unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret “smart drug” that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life in this darkly comic and provocative film.

Aspiring author Eddie Morra (Cooper) is suffering from chronic writer’s block, but his life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to NZT, a revolutionary new pharmaceutical that allows him to tap his full potential. With every synapse crackling, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets—as long as he keeps taking the untested drug.

Soon Eddie takes Wall Street by storm, parlaying a small stake into millions. His accomplishments catch the eye of mega-mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro), who invites him to help broker the largest merger in corporate history. But they also bring Eddie to the attention of people willing to do anything to get their hands on his stash of NZT. With his life in jeopardy and the drug’s brutal side effects taking their toll, Eddie dodges mysterious stalkers, a vicious gangster and an intense police investigation as he attempts to hang on to his dwindling supply long enough to outwit his enemies.

"Limitless" hits theaters on March 18th

You can visit the film's official website for more information at: http://www.iamrogue.com/limitless

Also, be sure to follow LIMITLESS on:

FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/LimitlessMovie

TWITTER
http://twitter.com/LimitlessMovie

"Limitless": Official Trailer

ALRIGHT!! DeNiro and Pacino are back together on the big screen for the first time since Michael Mann’s “Heat” which came out 13 years ago. Once again… OH MY GOD!!! It’s been that long since it came out??? Now, let's get back to the movie at hand, “Righteous Kill.” Whereas DeNiro and Pacino only had a few choice scenes in “Heat,” and they played characters inhabiting different timelines in “The Godfather Part II,” this is actually the first movie they have done together where they share a considerable amount of screen time together. That is the major selling point of this Jon Avnet directed mystery-thriller that was written by Russell Gewirtz (“Inside Man”). Who doesn’t want two of the greatest actors for years to appear together in a film again? That sold me immediately.

Well, there ain’t nothin’ righteous about this here movie. “Righteous Kill” would be nothing more than one of many made for TV movies that we see about every other week if it were not for the teaming of these two titans of actors in film. The movie is routine and clichéd to say the least, and it involves things we have seen before in many other movies of this kind. It’s a whodunit, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who the killer is long before the movie is finished.

DeNiro and Pacino play veteran detectives of the NYPD who are investigating the murders of various criminals ranging from a pimp to a rapist, and it soon becomes clear (you think?) that this is the work of a serial killer who leaves behind notes of rhyming phrases as to why he kills who he kills. DeNiro plays Turk who, as Pacino points out later in the film, is “a cop who cares.” Turk gets emotionally high strung when the bad guy gets off scott free. This leads him to at one point to plant evidence on a criminal who got away with murdering a 10-year old girl. While you almost can’t blame him for doing that, the ethical issue of this event eats away at both of the cops.

Pacino plays Turk’s partner, Rooster, who says he looks up to Turk as a role model of what a cop should be. These two seem made for each other as partners on the force who would never rat each other. But as the movie goes on, they start to doubt each other as it becomes clearer that it may very well be a cop behind these killings. So as a result, each detective becomes more and more paranoid of each other as the walls close in on the both of them. If they fail to catch the murderer, they may find the past coming back to haunt them.

The main problem I had with “Righteous Kill” is that it feels no different from hundreds of other mystery-thrillers involving cops solving mysterious crimes. As a result, you cannot help but feel that Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino are slumming in this movie. They have both played dozens of cops over their collective decades long careers, so believing them as cops is no real problem. But because of that, it feels like they are just going through the motions here. There is nothing particularly special or memorable about this movie, because it involves situations that we have all collectively been through before.

What’s especially depressing about this movie is watching Robert DeNiro. On one hand, it is great to see him in a dramatic role again after being in the comedy realm for so long. Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact he switched to comedy for awhile because it shows that he does have a sense of humor about the image that he has created over the years for himself. But it feels like DeNiro is not really trying here. He’s not necessarily bad, but I have to say this, it feels like our good friend Rob was just phoning it in. Let’s face it; he can play this role in his sleep.

As for Pacino, he has the same problem as DeNiro does. I remember reading an article on him once about how he almost retired from acting because he kept getting asked to play cops or detectives. Why he didn’t bother to keep himself from playing a detective after all these years is beyond me. His role here as Rooster (seriously, that’s how it’s listed on IMDB) is really nothing more than a variation of other cops he has played in the past. We know he can play this role in his sleep, just like DeNiro can. But there’s no magic to what Pacino does here. You’d figure that a brilliant actor like him would find some different take on the role so that it didn’t just remind you of all the other cops he has played in the past and far more successfully.

The movie does have a strong cast of actors to keep the movie rolling along. Brian Dennehy, who I feel like I don’t see enough these days, plays Lieutenant Hingis who is the commanding officer of Turk and Rooster. It’s another clichéd role of the superior officer prodding away at their detectives to get the job and close the case. To Dennehy’s credit, he doesn’t make his character too much of a blowhard like we usually see in these kinds of movies, but it doesn’t change the fact that the character is a flat out cliché. You also have the always entertaining John Leguizamo who plays a detective who (of course) butts heads with DeNiro’s character along with his partner played by Donnie Whalberg. It’s also nice to see Donnie in this movie because it is a good reminder that there is more to him than his boy band that is kryptonite to my ears, New Kids On The Block.

One of the strongest and most interesting performances in “Righteous Kill” comes from Carla Gugino who was quite the picture in “Sin City,” and had also done great work in movies like “Spy Kids” and “American Gangster” among others. She plays Karen Corelli, a detective/medical examiner who is always meeting up with DeNiro and Pacino at crime scenes, and to say she sizzles onscreen here is to say the least. She brings a great edge and energy to the role which the other actors could have used more of. Throughout this movie, she holds us at attention and keeps things interesting while the movie heads into routine territory. Even while her character beds DeNiro, she boasts of spending time with other men as well. Whether or not you agree with what she does throughout the movie, she is one of the strongest female characters I have seen in a movie this year who really doesn’t need any support from anybody. Too bad her performance is not enough to save this movie.

Other than that, you have Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson as Spider, a club owner/drug dealer who ends up in painful altercations with DeNiro and Pacino’s detectives. Typecasting to say the least, Curtis is kind of fun to watch here even if this movie does not show him to be much of an actor. Melissa Leo, who was so great this summer in “Frozen River,” has a powerfully played moment as a mother of a 10-year old daughter that was brutally murdered. The only problem is that once she plays her scene to a powerful and emotional peak, she is tossed off just as quickly. What a shame it is for her to be wasted like that after such a powerful moment.

Jon Avnet directed “Righteous Kill,” and he also directed Pacino in a movie that came out a few months earlier this year, “88 Minutes.” Now, I haven’t seen that one, but I have yet to hear anything good about it. Just from watching the trailer of that movie, it looked like it would be filled with major gaps in logic. There was one point in the trailer for the movie, which deals with a character who has been marked for death in 88 minutes, where he comes across a car that has 54 or so minutes left painted on it. And I wondered, how did this guy know when Pacino was gonna come around to that car at that time? What if Pacino was a few minutes early or a few minutes late, what if the timing was off? Would that killer be near the car with his paint and brushes in case he got the timing down wrong? I can just see the guy standing there, realizing Pacino ain’t showin’ up right there and then, and he’s all:

“Oh shit! Dammit! What time is it now? I got to redo this!”

Anyway, back to this supposedly righteous movie at hand. “Righteous Kill” is probably filled with as many inconsistencies as “88 Minutes” had, and to tell you what they are will easily give away key points in this movie. But long before the movie is over, you will be able to figure out who the killer is. This robs the movie of any mystery it hopes to have, and it all leads to a climax which is not all that different from the end of “Heat” with DeNiro and Pacino together. It’s almost like a reversal of it. By the end, I no longer cared who did what, and I came out of this movie a little sad. To see these two great actors sink so low as to do a movie like this.

None of the cleverness and fun of Russell Gewirtz’s script for “Inside Man” is on display, and this makes it a really bad year for director Jon Avnet. It’s almost enough to make you forget that he made the wonderful “Fried Green Tomatoes” years back. After all these years, are DeNiro and Pacino too old to play these kinds of roles? I prefer to think not. I mean, it’s not like they’re running for President of the United States or anything. Both actors I believe still have great work ahead of them as they had before, but this is not one of those films you will remember them best for. Trust me, you’ll forget about it very soon.

*1/2 out of ****

“Harry Angel is searching for the truth... Pray he doesn't find it.”

Right now, I cannot think of a truer tagline for a movie than the one for “Angel Heart,” an Alan Parker directed movie starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, and “The Cosby Show’s” Lisa Bonet. It follows the story of Private Detective named Harry Angel played by Rourke who is hired by a mysterious man named Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro in his best impersonation ever of Martin Scorsese) to track down the last whereabouts of a famous singer. This singer is presumed dead, but it turns out that may not be the case as Harry finds that he was transferred out of the hospital years ago, and while people say that this singer is dead, they cannot convince themselves of that. Angel’s journey into discovery takes him from the snowy and gospel filled streets of Harlem all the way out to the sweaty bayous of Louisiana. In “Angel Heart,” curiosity may not kill the cat, but it can sure frazzle and scar it for life. We search for the truth throughout our lives, but we never taken into account the possible consequences of what we may find.

I caught “Angel Heart” last Thursday at the New Beverly Cinema where they were showing it as a double feature with another Alan Parker movie, “Birdy.” Sitting in the theater with a very tiny audience on a weeknight (let’s leave the pun out of this), I can’t believe just how long it has taken for me to get out and see this movie. I remember when it was first released, and how it got an X rating (NC-17 today) for this sex scene between Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet where as they make out, the water dripping from the ceiling turns into blood. The version of this movie was the R-rated version that was released theatrically 20 years ago (yikes!), but the unrated edition can be found today on DVD. In fact, when it first came out on VHS, I think it was actually one of the very first movies to be shown on video in the way it was intended to be seen, without the MPAA breathing down its neck. Of course, this was years and years before Blockbuster Video came into play with its “family friendly” policy that did not allow for any NC-17 movies. I hate censorship of any kind, especially sanctioned censorship!

Was the movie deserving of its X rating? I doubt it. Considering that there are other acts of violence throughout this movie like a heart being cut out, someone blowing their brains out, and another person getting a very sensitive part of their body being cut off, the sex scene should seem almost tame in comparison. It’s depressing to see that this hypocrisy of the MPAA goes on to this very day where they find sexuality in movies more unnerving than violence or someone getting blown away literally. Of course, it did offer the movie some free publicity which must have tickled the producers to death.

“Angel Heart” is a heavily atmospheric movie that makes you feel the coldness of New York, and the never ending heat that makes you sweat like never before in Louisiana. It is not a loud slam bang movie, and it does take its time in setting up the story and of the locations that the movie was shot in. Each city in the movie is an important character, and they reflect the nightmares and dreams of the main characters in the film. If this movie were to be made today, I imagine the studios would want the characters to be younger and more hip and take away some of the dark stuff… I hope this is one movie that filmmakers can leave off of the remake table. It does have some exciting moments and some shoot outs and chases, but they never seem put there to “liven” up the film so to speak.

Back when this movie was made, Mickey Rourke was a much bigger star, and this is one of the movies he seemed to do without the benefit of shampooing his hair. This fact continually dogs him to this very day. As Harry Angel, he does excellent work in making his character seem tough and sleazy, yet resourceful and vulnerable. Harry’s life unravels faster and faster as he digs deeper and deeper into the mystery that surrounds him. Watching Rourke in a roll like this reminds you of what a strong and brave actor he can be. Back then, he was not afraid to play on the dark side of a character and to give us someone who was not so morally sound. His off screen antics seem to get the best of him these days, but thanks to his performance years later in “Sin City,” we can never forget how great of an actor he can be.

The movie credits itself for having “a special appearance by Robert De Niro.” Special appearance? That seems to imply that you see him in the movie once. On point of fact, you see him several times throughout the movie as Louis Cyphre (pay close attention to that name). It’s one of the few performances where De Niro never goes over the top and gets all threatening like he does in movies like “Mean Streets.” This film was also made way before De Niro went into making nothing comedies (“Righteous Kill” should correct that). As Cyphre, De Niro gives a delicious performance of a man endlessly fascinated by the corruption and decay of the soul. His character feeds on that just as he feeds on hard boiled eggs. When he says that the egg is the symbol of the soul and then slowly bites into it in front of Rourke’s character, it is a very chilling moment. De Niro looks like he had a blast playing this part.

Lisa Bonet was deep into playing Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” when she was cast in this. I imagine the MPAA tricked themselves into giving this film an adults only rating because they got all hot and bothered at one Cosby’s TV daughters showing her breasts. I can see them now:

“We can’t let kids see this movie! They will never look at one of television’s famous daughters the same again! This will destroy their innocence!!”

A lot of the controversy surrounding this movie almost hides the fact that Bonet was actually really good here. A lot of people probably assumed she got this part because of her success on “The Cosby Show,” but Alan Parker made it clear when the movie was released that he picked her because he felt she was right for the part. Having seen this movie, I completely agree. I also have to admit that it was fun seeing her naked, but anyway. Lisa’s character of Epiphany (perfectly named by the way) is a mysterious person who seems to say everything yet reveals nothing, and she captures the mystery of this character very well and keeps us guessing of what she really knows. It’s almost a shame that her career has descended into obscurity, although I get the feeling she doesn’t mind it all that much.

Director Alan Parker has made a lot of great movies over the years like “Birdy” and the experience that is “Midnight Express” to name a few. Like “Angel Heart,” they deal with lost souls trying desperately to free themselves of whatever is holding them back. There is a lot holding Harry Angel back in this movie, but when he finally gets to the truth, he will find that being held back was actually a blessing that he could never see. Alan gives the movie a distinctive look as it takes place in the 1940’s. Parker also directs his actors very well and gives them each a memorable moment that sticks with you long after you have seen the movie.

Trevor Jones did the score, and I’m wondering if I can possibly find it anywhere. It’s probably out of print at this time. Trevor does great work capturing the tension and the atmosphere, and of aiding the filmmakers in realizing the horrifying truth that Harry has spent this movie trying to find.

The trailer for “Angel Heart” goes out of its way to make it look like this is the second coming of horror by comparing it to “The Exorcist” and “Chinatown.” This movie does not reach those heights and was never in a position to do so, but it is still a very good movie worth seeing for those who have an interest in the devil and/or the occult. Both play a big part in this movie.

***1/2 out of ****