Lesser Prophets

I rented this video because of the impressive casting, thinking it might be an amusing gem. Ha! As I watched, I thought....this movie must have been made a long time ago- like before these guys ever had acting lessons. Boy was I surprised to find out that this movie was made in 97, well after most of the actors had good reputations and choice roles. I guess this proves that bad directing can make even the best actors look pretty terrible. I rated this movie a 3. It did have a little bit of witty dialogue and it was kind of fun to watch famous, well known actors be so awful, in a perverse kind of way.

A little violent In places but without any unnecessary gore and with plenty of tongue-In-cheek humour (some a little more direct)this Is an enjoyable little gem which ought to be given more credit than has been the case. The story centers around three Illegal bookies, their partially-retarded dogsbody Leone, a Hard-working, non-corrupt but easy-going and straight-talking cop called Ziggy (and his gambling-debted brother recently deceased via-suicide) and a bullying stepfather(a semi-pro thief on the verge of heist with life-changing Income) who lives with a mother and her pre-teen son In the same building to the previously-mentioned Leone. The Interaction between these central characters forms the basis of the Movie and the way It all ties up Is very good Indeed. It has a bit of everything and that's what makes this film so enjoyable. Three scenes In particular to watch out for (all hilarious) - the dialogue between the Italian guy sat In his car and the gang-leader he Insults, the hanging of Leone from the dock and the three bookies struggling through the streets In chains had me In stitches! I've watched several times and enjoyed the last as much as the first. A good, underrated Movie that I'm sure you, too, will enjoy.

Considering that LESSER PROPHETS has a score of 5,3 and just 10 reviews, I thought it was going to be terrible but instead was merely ok, and being a fan of some of the cast members, I knew I had to bit the bullet, and I did.

It's an ensemble movie with four separate story lines (a bit reminiscent of PULP FICTION actually) where the police have three bookies under surveillance but they show up elsewhere. Leon (John Turturro) knows them and gives them a tip on a sure thing and they bet the farm, and in the meanwhile he befriends the kid of his next-door apartment that has his mother (Elizabeth Perkins) often abused by her husband who himself does some robberies from time to time with his partner Iggy (Scott Glenn). After various troubles they will all come together with another murder and some money.

I liked the performances by Turturro, Perkins, Glenn, George Di Cenzo and Mike Starr, but what brought down this movie for me was that some of the characters' actions were a bit inconsistent, and the editing looked a bit rough. Still, it falls in the time-passer category.

I liked this, although it is far from perfect. It's an ensemble movie, three or four separate story lines that all come together in an ending that is totally wrong, but never mind. I liked Dicenzo and his two illegal bookie cronies, their operation looked real to me, and if John Turturo's character was a bit inconsistent -- one moment a moron, the next just a bit backward -- and if Jimmy Smits' participation (I like Smits and his starring position on the video cover was a selling point) was disappointingly brief, there are enough good things in this to keep it interesting. It's mix of 'real' violence and slapstick is another inconsistency, but there is enough in the dialogue and the performances - DiCenzo is particularly good -- to keep it watchable throughout.

I was channel surfing the other night, and saw this film as a late "Sunday Night" movie on ABC in NYC. What a cool film! I wonder how this film didn't have a bigger release. I may be a little New York centric, but this was a fun, "caper-ish" movie that while being serious, doesn't take itself too seriously.

This is the type of film I wish there were more of these days, but alas in the days of big budget, effect driven films; it's hard to find adult, character driven dramatic comedies; and this one is worth the watching.

Frank, NYC 4/03