BROOKLYN RULES
US, 2007, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jerry Ferrara, Freddie Prinz Jr, Alec Baldwin, Scott Caan, Mena Suvari, Brian O' Neill.
Directed by Michael Corrente.
With The Godfather films and with the television series, The Sopranos, there is a huge media heritage of films about the Mafia. This is part of the heritage.
While the film shows three boys, friends, in Brooklyn, and the growing up and their subsequent careers, it also shows the background of the Mafia in New York City, especially in the 1970s and 1980s and the Gotti family. The writer of the film, Terence Winter, is producer and writer for The Sopranos. Which means that there is a great deal of atmosphere.
Freddie Prinze is the leader of the group of friends and also the narrator of the story. Scott Caan plays the friend who is drawn taught to the Mafia. Jerry Ferrara is the less talented of the three, looking for a rather more ordinary life.
Alec Baldwin is the Godfather figure, menacing and cruel. Mena Suvari plays a girlfriend.
1. The tradition of gangster movies? The influence of The Godfather? Of Martin Scorsese’s films? This film as a variation on the theme? The focus on young men in Brooklyn?
2. The background of the Mafia in New York in the 1970s and 1980s, the Gotti family? New York activity, Mafia Wars? This fictional story within the factual context?
3. Brooklyn, homes, streets, Pastels? Columbia University, Manhattan? The musical score, songs?
4. The introduction, Michael and his voice-over? The initial glimpse of the final shooting and its reprise at the end? The religious atmosphere? The focus on the face of Jesus crucified, the Bible readings, the rituals in church, priest, the nun and her collecting the money? The introduction to the three boys? Bobby and his worrying about money? Carmine and his vanity? Michael and his taking the money? The religious talk throughout the film? Statues of Mary, Bobby and his prayers? Beliefs and nonbelief? Low morality? The final funeral? the wedding?
5. The young men in the 1980s, finding the dead man, stealing from the car, nonchalant about the death?
6. The transition to the 1980s? Caesar and his presence, his bashing the man during the 1970s at the subway? In the 1980s, an enforcer, his character, smooth charm? Ruthless? Carmine admiring him, the cards and the casino, Michael not wanting to take any credit? His intervening in the fight of the young men? The issue of the Vietnam veteran wanting the garbage business, Caesar attacking him, slicing his ear? His finally being killed outside the shop?
7. Michael, his attitude, from his voice-over, strong friendship? Living with Bobby’s family? Girls and sex? At the casino? Going to Columbia, studying political science, interested in the law, eventually getting his entry application and gaining a place at Fordham? Cheating in the exam, taking the paper, arguing with the professor about its being lost, praising himself, the compromise for his final exam? Ellen seeing him? His disagreements with Carmine about the Mafia, about Caesar? The Vietnam veteran, his card, showing it to Carmine, the episode with the slicing of the ear, the effect on him? His work in the shop? Talking with Ellen after the exam, her inviting him to the party, Carmine and Bobby not being allowed in? His going inside without them, talking, the bond between them? Taking Ellen out, at the restaurant, the fight, their witnessing the brutality, at the hospital, her telling the truth about Michael underestimating himself? The break, his seeing her again, apologies, the sexual encounter, at Bobby’s engagement? Going to the jewellers with Bobby, the argument about the ring? issue of the best man? The death of the Mafia chief and the change in the neighbourhood? The confrontation in the toilet with the young man he fought? Taking Bobby, changing seats, Bobby being shot? The pathos of his death? Funeral? The revenge, taking the man out, the toss of the coin, Michael winning but Carmine shooting? His leaving for California, with Ellen?
