Robert De Niro in Michael Mann’s “Frankie Machine”
In addition to creating the 1990s crime classic Heat, Robert De Niro and Michael Mann have one major thing in common: they’ve each made slick, stylish movies about bad guys. Now they’re set to collaborate on another one, Frankie Machine, based on the novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine” by Don Winslow (he also wrote the book “The Death and Life of Bobby Z”).
THE STORY: “Frankie Machine” is the mob nickname for one Frank Machianno (this guy here, in case you couldn’t guess), a retired wiseguy who runs a bait shop. When he agrees to mediate a situation involving a mob boss’s son, he’s forced to take on his Frankie Machine persona once more. Wow, a movie about a killer pulled back in to his old line of work “one more time?”
De Niro may have had that kind of cynicism too, but Winslow’s book won him over. According to Variety, De Niro’s recent distaste in playing gangster types wasn’t an issue once the he read the novel. Could this be De Niro’s introspective, swan song mob movie, just as Al Pacino had Donnie Brasco?
QUESTION: What is De Niro’s greatest performance? Most say Raging Bull, but I’m partial to The Deer Hunter myself… TELL US
THE WRITERS: Top Hollywood pedigree: Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who smartly adapted another popular novel, Runaway Jury. They’ve also written Ocean’s Thirteen and Rounders.
An aside: I once interviewed Koppelman and Levien in Boston, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Unlike the film they directed, Knockaround Guys, which I gave a negative review in a separate publication. After we spoke, the pair found the review online and felt I was being insincere with them during our interview. Not true, and I’ve enjoyed their work ever since.
THE DIRECTOR: Mann is, well, the man. Heat is simply spectacular filmmaking, The Insider is smart and relevant and Collateral, like Heat, is an excellent moody L.A. mood tale. I even like Michael Mann’s approach to the big-screen version of Miami Vice.
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- Movie Poster Monday: RIGHTEOUS KILL
- Al Pacino’s Top Five Performances
- TERMINATOR 4 Spoiler Buzz
- GRINDHOUSE GIVEAWAY: Free Rose McGowan “Cherry” Action Figure!
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Hmmmm … I’d like to see DeNiro return to parts like this, rather than ham it up in “I’m A Dumb Focker 2: Electric Bugaloo.”
www.therecshow.com
- Ray -
Yeah, he’s definitely had his share of hammy roles. And the mob thing definitely reeks of repetition. But at this stage of De Niro’s career, with his level of acclaim and experience, does either point even matter?
-Norm S.
according to wikipedia al pacino was a part of the cast a while back but that got taken off. people are saying that its gonna have michael imperioli as well as that indie music guy adil omar in an unnamed role and david proval.
- jondough -
I hadn’t seen that information, so thanks for passing it along. David Proval, huh? If The Sopranos taught us anything, it’s that David Proval can be a spooky badass.
-Norm S.
[…] next for De Niro? First, the road trip movie Everybody’s Fine, followed by the crime drama Frankie Machine. (Oh, and the Heat videogame. Really.) For Pacino? A new version of Rififi, then playing Salvador […]