"29th Street" is the semi-autobiographical account of the life of Frank Pesce (who stars in the role of his own brother in the movie), a directionless, young Italian-American who hits it lucky when he is entered in the first ever New York State lottery.
Everyone is convinced that Frank is going to win such has been the amazing luck he has experienced during his life. Compare this to his hard-working, blue collar father who has endured, rather than enjoyed, his.
While the screenplay is solid and deals well with the opposing issues of love and resentment, it's the two central performances that primarily shine. Anthony LaPaglia (playing Frank) became my favourite actor once I saw this movie in 1992. His ability to play different shades, delivers goosepimples as he delivers his lines. It's a masterful performance by a man as relatively inexperienced as he was then.
Screen veteran Danny Aiello (playing his father), is perfectly cast as an honest but occasionally maladroit man whose influence over his family visibly decreases by the day.
Hands down, this is my favorite Christmas movie ever made. Combines the goodwill ending of "It's A Wonderful Life" with the urban feel of "Goodfellas". Danny Aiello, one of the most criminally underused actors of all time, shines as the blue collar father of the family that struggles daily just to make ends meet. Excellent movie all around.
one of my favorite christmas movies. if you haven't seen it yet see it. You dont have to watch it at christmas to like it.
it's all about d'eye and duh drums!
the gift of good luck. what a curse. funny as hell with heart and a little bit of italian mafia thrown in make this one of my top 5 movies of all time. danny aiello and anthony lapaglia are outstanding with performances they were born to play
MCT:July 30, 2007
MCT:June 17, 2007
