Movie Description
At the wake of their murdered younger brother, two gangster siblings revisit their past while making plans for revenge against a rival gangster who killed him. Christopher Walken delivers a powerhouse performance as the eldest brother, Ray, whose emotions have been shut down after their own father's suicide some years before and who must come to terms with his failures as a man. Chris Penn costars as Chez, his abusive, emotionally unstable brother who has inherited their father's self-destructive behavior. Set in 1930s New York, this elegiac film delves into such topics as faith, masculinity, and redemption as it moves slowly toward its bloody, powerful climax. Annabella Sciorra plays Ray's wife, whose devout Catholicism serves as the moral center of the film. Isabella Rossellini, Vincent Gallo, Benicio Del Toro, and Gretchen Mol round out the stellar cast. While it contains his usual violence and raunchy sex scenes, THE FUNERAL marks a mature new direction in the career of New York auteur Abel Ferrara (who previously worked with Walken on KING OF NEW YORK). Nicely subdued colors and cinematography by Ken Kelsch combine with great acting and probing dialogue to make this a valuable addition to the gangster genre.
| Credits | | Cast: | Benicio Del Toro, Chris Penn, Christopher Walken, Gretchen Mol, Isabella Rossellini, John Ventimiglia, Paul Hipp |
| Details | | Sound: | HiFi Sound, Stereo Sound |
Notes
Theatrical release: November 1, 1996.
Filmed in New York City.
Shown in competition at the Venice Film Festival on August 21, 1996.
Nicholas Cage was orginally cast in the part of Ray, but walked off before shooting began. Christopher Walken stepped in to help Ferrara, though he originally felt he was too old for the part.
Longtime Ferrara collaborator Nicholas St. John wrote the screenplay after the death of his son.
Editorial Reviews
"...Mature and grounded filmmaking....The male performers are all distinguished, with standout work from Penn, Gallo and DeToro....Walken shines throughout..."
Variety - Emanuel Levy (09/09/1996)
"...Scalding psychopathology....[Walken] looks like a saint in extremis and performs like and actor in excelsis..."
Film Comment - Harlan Kennedy (11/01/1996)
"...[The film] has a lot of remarkable material to offer..."
Sight and Sound - Kim Newman (04/01/1997)
"...It's safe to say that in the American cinema, there's never been a gangster movie quite like this dark, dense and intimate film..."
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas (11/08/1996)
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