ROB THE MOB
US, 2014, 104 minutes, Colour.
Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda, Andy Garcia, Ray Romano, Griffin Dunne, Michael Rispoli, Yul Vazquez, Frank Whaley, Samira Wiley, Burt Young, Cathy Moriarty.
Directed by Raymond De Felitta.
This is a true story or, at least, a variation on it. Tommy and Rosie (Michael Pitt and a very impressive Nina Arianda) do drugs and spend some time in prison. When Rosie gets out, she gets a good job in recovering debts at a company run by Griffin Dunne. When Tommy gets out, she gets him a job at the same place.
The setting is New York City in the early 1990s.
However, Tommy is unreliable. He has left home long since and goes on a visit to see his mother, Cathy Moriarty, who runs a flower shop, with her other son. They do not want to see Tommy. He is resentful of the connection of his father, whom he loved, with the Mafia and his violent death.
The film offers footage of the Gotti trial and the testimony in the New York courts. Tommy goes to the trial and gets the brainwave of robbing various Mafia clubs. Rosie is hard to persuade but eventually agrees to be the getaway driver. The robberies are very awkward, Rosie and Tommy not being the brightest sparks. However, they get away with two robberies, though a pawnbroker is unwilling to take their jewels. At a third robbery, with just a few old codgers present in the morning, they collect a wallet which contains a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of the Mafia families.
Rosie acts on this, but is also intrigued by a journalist who has been covering the cases, Ray Romano, and the couple give interviews with articles appearing in the papers.
In the background is Big Al, Andy Garcia, living respectively, angry about his murdered son, bringing up his grandson, out to get vengeance but pleading with the police for a dignified arrest.
His henchman, Sal, Michael Rispoli, sets his men onto the couple and they are killed.
There is a certain tongue-in-cheek tone about some of the ineptitude of the Mafia and their being tricked, at least temporarily, by Tommy and Rosie.
1. The title? Mafia stories and films? New York City? Mafia bosses, arrests and court cases? The role of the FBI? Over many decades? Court cases and trials, prison sentences?
2. A true story, of the 1990s? And the repercussions from the past?
3. New York City, courts, homes, offices, Mafia clubs, shops? Authentic? The musical score?
4. Tommy and Rosie? Age, background, drugs, the arrest, Rosie causing the uproar? Kissing Tommy? Prison sentences?
5. 18 months later, Rosie and her good job, tough on the phone, Dave and his supporting her, praising her, willing to give Tommy a job? His enthusiasm?
6. Tommy, getting out, going to visit his mother and brother, not welcome, the memories of the past, his father's death? Later returning, bringing the large amount of money, their anger and rejection? His feelings of rejection? His father, the flashbacks, his motivation for robbing the mob?
7. The workplace, David and Tommy, the job, Tommy missing? Tommy going to the Gotti case? Persuading Dave to go, his enjoying it, quoting the witnesses?
8. Tommy and Rosie, limited personalities, intelligence? Dumb decisions? Rosie reacting to the risk? Tommy assured? Their arguments about the robbery? Rosie's caution, Tommy getting the gun, persuading her to do the driving?
9. The picture of the jobs, Tommy's dumb approach, no mask, entering, the identification of the club? His talk about himself, bravado? The gun going off? The talk, the reactions, collecting the money and jewellery? Rosie and the awkward driving, getting away? Happy looking at the results? Going to the Jewish pawnbroker and his refusal? Going again to the next club, the same reactions, getting them to take off their clothes – and the FBI photographing them? The third robbery, the oldies at the club? Joey D and his wallet, providing the list?
10. Not worry about their identities, no worries, happy, the prospects? Tommy's proposal and Rosie's acceptance? The plan, Christmas, New Year's Day, to Florida?
11. Big Al, the background of his life, his career, telling his story to sell, deadly, the death of his son, with his daughter-in-law, her boy, teaching him cooking, the boy's devotion to him? The robberies, the threats, the list? Tough attitude towards Joey D? Gathering everyone together, the threats, Joey missing? The FBI and surveillance? His speech about the dignified arrest and its effect? With a little boy, urging him to do good? His arrest? Driving away?
12. The FBI agents, listening in, taking the photos? Jerry and his journalism? The discussion about the photos with the FBI agent? The article, publishing the photos? The Mafia reaction, interrogating the people involved? His interest in the characters, the phone call from Rosie, meeting her, the pleasant talk, Tommy and his being wary, yet giving the information? The writing of the article? Rosie's delight? Dave reading it?
13. The couple confident, the power of the list, the phone numbers, ringing the daughter-in-law? The FBI attitudes, Jerry and his concern about the protection, the FBI willing to sacrifice them?
14. The men, robbed, the reactions, at the club? Joey D and his confessing?
15. Cell, his role, the visits with Owl, reading the article, knowing the make of the car? Following the couple and the shooting?
16. Jerry, giving the tickets to Mexico, warning them, they're ignoring him? Marriage, Florida, Christmas, profession of love? Her being killed?
17. The final photo, the information of those arrested and the effectiveness of the list?
