I watched The Family (2013) last night.
I’d seen it before but only once and not since it first came out.
It’s a really good film. 👌
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a Crime/Comedy/Thriller starring Robert De Niro (Goodfellas), Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns) and Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men) among others.
This is what it’s about:
After surviving an attempted hit at a family BBQ, Giavanni Manzoni (De Niro) makes a deal with the FBI and snitches on a rival mob boss. He and his family are then placed under witness protection and relocated to Normandy, France.
While they struggle to adapt to their new life and shake off their old habits, a hitman intent on seeing the job through discovers their new whereabouts and closes in.
I’m not a big mob movie fan but I really like this one. It’s funny, has some good performances and offers up something a little bit different to the genre.
The kids, played by Dianna Agron (I Am Number 4) and John D’Leo (The Wrestler) also add a lot to this movie. They’re just as street smart as their parents and provide some good moments between them.
I also like that Michelle Pfeiffer was cast. I’d like to think it’s partly because of her mob film ties having been in Scarface but it may have nothing to do with it. Either way, she’s really good!
I didn’t realise until I watched it last night that this film was direct by Luc Besson who also directed Leon (1994) and The Fifth Element (1997). He wrote the screenplay too. The story itself though is based on the French novel, “Malavita” (English title: “Badfellas”) by Tonino Benacquista.
If you fancy a decent film with a few laughs this weekend, give The Family a watch. 👍
Seen it? Let me know what you think.👇