THE FRESHMAN
US, 1990, 102 minutes, Colour.
Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick, Penelope Ann Miller, Maximilian Schell, Bruno Kirby, Frank Whaley, Jon Polito.
Directed by Andrew Bergman.
The Freshman is a light, comic spoof on the Mafia. It stars Matthew Broderick as an ingenuous young man who comes from Vermont to New York to the New York University film school. He becomes involved in events which make more than an elaborate screenplay for any film he might make. However, the film is reminiscent of The Sting and everything comes together at the end.
Matthew Broderick is good in this kind of role and is matched by Bruno Kirby as the taxi-driver who swindles him at the beginning and invites him to join the Mafia. However, it is also a Marlon Brando film. Brando, very bulky, seems to be enjoying himself as a local godfather - and the screenplay gives wink wink, nudge nudge comments about his resemblance to his role in The Godfather. At the film school, they show scenes from Godfather II.
The film was made on location in New York City and New Jersey and has an authentic atmosphere. It also reminds us of many of the gangster films - however it is done so lightly and tongue in cheek that even Mafia audiences would probably enjoy it very much. It was written and directed by Andrew Bergman, writer of such films as Blazing Saddles and writer-director of So Fine.
1.Pleasing comedy? The Mafia? A piece of Americana?
2.The New York City locations, the New Jersey and Vermont locations? Authentic atmosphere - making the incredible plot credible? The musical score?
3.The film references, the film school? The scenes from Godfather II with Fleeber mouthing them and relishing them? Yet the sinister content with Al Pacino as Michael Corleone? The humour of the scene from 42nd Street and Fleeber's article? The various posters in Clark's room? Conscious allusions to film, conventions and genres?
4.The opening with Clark stalking the animals, Dwight and his hunting, Clark not interested? His voice-over, the family meal, explanation of his situation, leaving for New York City, arriving, hustling, falling down the stairs, wanting the subway, the encounter with Vic, listening to Vic's spiel, the luggage, the taxi-ride and the $10, Vic driving off with his luggage and stranding him after 19 minutes in New York City? The irony of the title?
5.Clark and his ambitions, the discussions with Fleeber, 42nd Street, seeing Vic out the window, chasing him? The classes with Godfather II and Fleeber mouthing the scenes? Fleeber and his eccentricity, lacking compassion, the classroom and wanting answers from his books? Disowning him? Pleas to see Carmine as the gangster and wanting to be remembered to him? The poking fun at movie academics?
6.The argument with Victor, Vic offering him the job, going for the interview with Carmine, his fears, expressing his doubts, Carmine and the handshake, accepting the job? The visit to his home, the encounter with Tina and the dancing, flirtatious? The aunt and her sickness, the guard with his gun and eating the sandwich? The job, going with Steve? At Kennedy Airport, the guard, getting the lizard, the difficulties with the lizard and the explanations, in the car, at the supermarket with the mayhem in the pool? Delivering it to Larry London, the encounter with Edward, with Larry and his eccentric manner? Ringing his mother to tell her the news, Dwight listening in and the information about the dragon from Indonesia?
7.His dilemmas, being chased by the police and eluding them, the visit to Carmine, wanting to get out, being led on by Carmine, the engagement, the gift of the car? His being arrested, the interrogation in the empty warehouse? Back at the university, the visit by Carmine and the discussions about loyalty, offering him choices? Tina getting him from class? And the pressure to make him an A1 student?
8.The information about the bogus police, the plan for the gourmet club, Larry London's role? Going to the skating rink - and Carmine skating? The plan, at the club, the meal, the signal to the police, the confrontation, Carmine being shot, the reaction of the police, taking the money, their being arrested by the FBI? The irony of the scam about the gourmet club? The happy ending?
9.Marlon Brando as Carmine, the references to The Godfather, imitating himself and sending himself up? Luring Clark, persuasive, the codes of the Mafia, the hand-grip, the kiss on the mouth (and the scene from Godfather II)? His style, the visit to college - and not missing anything? Kindness, love for Tina, the skating? The scam and the pretence of dying? The big money for the exotic animals being eaten - and their being donated to his wing of the zoo? The send-up of Mafia types - and Vic as his loyal nephew, the men in the bar and their loyalty, his walking down the street and being kind to people in the fruit shops etc?
10.Larry London and Maximilian Schell's comic style, the cook, part of the scam, Edward and his relationship with Larry?
11.Vic, his patter, in on the plan, obsequious style?
12.Tina, glamour, pushy, the story about going to Harvard, attracted towards Clark, part of the scam?
13.Steve, sharing a room with Clark, in classes? Helping with the Lizard? The finale?
14.Audience familiarity with Mafia films - and the reversal of the conventions for comedy?
