Lookin' Italian is a 1994 American crime film directed by

Guy Magar Guy Magar is an American director and screenwriter, born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1948. He directed television series before he transitioned to feature films, such as ''Our Family Honor'' and ''Riptide''. An independent director, he is best known for ...

and starring

Jay Acovone Jay Acovone (born August 20, 1955) is an American actor. Among his most famous roles is Charles Kawalsky in the TV series Stargate SG-1. Personal life Acovone was born in New York City. His family later moved to Mahopac, New York where his par ...

and

Matt LeBlanc Matthew Steven LeBlanc (; born July 25, 1967) is an American actor. He garnered global recognition with his portrayal of Joey Tribbiani in the NBC sitcom ''Friends'' and in its spin-off series, ''Joey''. For his work on ''Friends'', LeBlanc r ...

Synopsis

Vinny Pallazzo (

) is a retired gangster who has left the mafia after a disastrous incident. Now working as a clerk in a dusty bookshop of

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, he has to look after his young, reckless nephew Anthony (

), who lives fast, spending his time between seducing girls at the bookshop, dancing in nightclubs and playing poker games with friends. Vinny tries to do everything so that Anthony doesn't cross paths with mafia and gang wars, as he is afraid that his brash and hot-blooded nephew might end up like his father - dead. But that may be a lot more difficult than it sounds, especially after Anthony's girlfriend is brutally killed with another friend of his, by a gang. Anthony wants then to be avenged, especially after learning the truth about his father.

Cast

: Vincenzo "Vinny" Pallazzo *

: Anthony Manetti * Stephanie Richards : Danielle * Lou Rawls : Willy * John LaMotta : Don Dinardo *

Ralph Manza Ralph Manza (December 1, 1921 – January 31, 2000) was an American character actor who made over 160 appearances in American film and television shows. Career A pre-med student at UC-Berkeley in the early 1940s, Manza was drafted into the Unit ...

: Manza *

Real Andrews Real may refer to: Currencies * Brazilian real (R$) * Central American Republic real * Mexican real * Portuguese real * Spanish real * Spanish colonial real Music Albums * ''Real'' (L'Arc-en-Ciel album) (2000) * ''Real'' (Bright album) (2010) ...

: Riva * Angelina Brunetti : the grandmother

Production

A low-budget independent movie, ''Lookin' Italian'' is meant to be, in director Guy Magar words, "an hommage to Scorsese and to Italian-American culture ... To me, the words "Lookin' Italian" mean "lookin' good". Magar also mentioned in his autobiography about the good friendship between Acovone and LeBlanc as the first took the latter under his wing and helped him with his acting.

Critical reception

The critical response was mixed. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said: On the other hand, other newspapers gave some good reviews, especially for a low-budget and low-promoted film. The Press Enterprise remarked, for example, that ''Lookin' Italian'' was "A powerful, smart and sassy independently-made film that comes together so well – blending comedy and drama, issues and entertainment – is a tribute to Guy Magar who made it for the low Hollywood cost of under $1-million!"Action/Cut Article

Notes

References

* ''Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot'' by Guy Magar
The critic from Variety Magazine (01/13/1994)

External links

* *{{Rotten Tomatoes, lookin_italian 1994 films Films about the American Mafia Films shot in New York City 1990s English-language films American gangster films Films directed by Guy Magar Films scored by Jeff Beal 1990s American films