Neighborhoods may change, but the intolerant attitudes of some insular communities go on. One hopeful person's charming new environment is another's hellhole of stifled dreams and crushing family pressures.
There are a few worthy notions in debut filmmaker Frank Ciota's low-budget drama set in Boston's Little Italy, but the story line is uninvolving and the performances are unable to keep one fully engaged. With not-the-best sound and overly conservative direction, "The North End" nonetheless kept the attention of audiences at the Santa Barbara (Calif.) International Film Festival.
With a background in advertising, Ciota made several short films in the early 1990s and then teamed with his screenwriter brother Joseph to create "The North End". Part homage and part social critique, the film sticks close to the bars and sidewalks of the titular neighborhood.
Headliner Frank Vincent ("Casino") plays Dom Dibella, a North Ender who made it to Hollywood as an actor playing bad guys and has returned to reprise the role of mob godfather in real life. Community elder and general of the local troops, he leads the way in bemoaning the intrusion of yuppies and "Moroccans" in the 'hood.
Two of the invaders are Harvard graduates Freddie (Matt Del Negro) and Mac (Mark Hartmann), who end up falling for beguiling local beauty Danielle (Lina Sivio). Freddie is an aspiring filmmaker on a quest to make a documentary about the changing local scene, while Mac is a successful investment banker who recently broke up with his fiancee.
Neither choose to heed the warning that many protective males with guns and bad attitudes await those who defile an Italian woman and treat her wrong. Believing their ethnicity is most strongly reflected in the maternal side of one's family, these macho guys also reserve the right to physically intimidate or discipline their own mothers, sisters and wives given the proper circumstances.
Young and heading toward a career in modeling, Danielle wants none of it. But jealous Mac is prone to violence, and she soon realizes her mistake. Jumping in when he gets a chance, quiet and thoughtful Freddie is an Italian kid who has evolved beyond the "traditional" values of Dom DiBella. He makes quick headway with Danielle, and disaster looms on several fronts.
Overall, "The North End" is believable enough but not unique or particularly challenging. It's hard to get behind the characters, and the banter of bigots grows wearisome -- even if there are a few good laughs included. Sivio, Del Negro and Hartmann give it their best, and they all have memorable moments.
THE NORTH END
Mavex
Director: Frank Ciota
Producer: Michael King
Screenwriter: Joseph A. Ciota
Director of photography: Jonathan Bekemeier
Art director: Matt Hankey
Editor: George Chiochios
Music: Adam Steinberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dom Dibella: Frank Vincent
Freddie: Matt Del Negro
Danielle: Lina Sivio
Mac: Mark Hartmann
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
There are a few worthy notions in debut filmmaker Frank Ciota's low-budget drama set in Boston's Little Italy, but the story line is uninvolving and the performances are unable to keep one fully engaged. With not-the-best sound and overly conservative direction, "The North End" nonetheless kept the attention of audiences at the Santa Barbara (Calif.) International Film Festival.
With a background in advertising, Ciota made several short films in the early 1990s and then teamed with his screenwriter brother Joseph to create "The North End". Part homage and part social critique, the film sticks close to the bars and sidewalks of the titular neighborhood.
Headliner Frank Vincent ("Casino") plays Dom Dibella, a North Ender who made it to Hollywood as an actor playing bad guys and has returned to reprise the role of mob godfather in real life. Community elder and general of the local troops, he leads the way in bemoaning the intrusion of yuppies and "Moroccans" in the 'hood.
Two of the invaders are Harvard graduates Freddie (Matt Del Negro) and Mac (Mark Hartmann), who end up falling for beguiling local beauty Danielle (Lina Sivio). Freddie is an aspiring filmmaker on a quest to make a documentary about the changing local scene, while Mac is a successful investment banker who recently broke up with his fiancee.
Neither choose to heed the warning that many protective males with guns and bad attitudes await those who defile an Italian woman and treat her wrong. Believing their ethnicity is most strongly reflected in the maternal side of one's family, these macho guys also reserve the right to physically intimidate or discipline their own mothers, sisters and wives given the proper circumstances.
Young and heading toward a career in modeling, Danielle wants none of it. But jealous Mac is prone to violence, and she soon realizes her mistake. Jumping in when he gets a chance, quiet and thoughtful Freddie is an Italian kid who has evolved beyond the "traditional" values of Dom DiBella. He makes quick headway with Danielle, and disaster looms on several fronts.
Overall, "The North End" is believable enough but not unique or particularly challenging. It's hard to get behind the characters, and the banter of bigots grows wearisome -- even if there are a few good laughs included. Sivio, Del Negro and Hartmann give it their best, and they all have memorable moments.
THE NORTH END
Mavex
Director: Frank Ciota
Producer: Michael King
Screenwriter: Joseph A. Ciota
Director of photography: Jonathan Bekemeier
Art director: Matt Hankey
Editor: George Chiochios
Music: Adam Steinberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dom Dibella: Frank Vincent
Freddie: Matt Del Negro
Danielle: Lina Sivio
Mac: Mark Hartmann
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/25/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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