29th Street Reviews and Ratings


  • karenshaub
    October 29, 2009
    karenshaub
    It's a shame that more people don't know about this film. I suppose most reviews start out this way, but it's true; once you've seen this unknown treaure you just want to share it with everybody who enjoys good movies. 29th STREET is the more or less true story of Frank Pesce Jr....( read more) winner of $6.2 million dollars in the first New York State lottery and of his very New York Italian family--if you've ever lived next door to one you know what I mean; everything is screamed rather than spoken, certain expletives are used liberally, a casual question turns into World War III, and they have a unique attitude toward the mafia. (Our next door neighbors all managed to move to Florida based on their father's career running numbers for the mob. Guess the lottery killed that job.) Anyhow, 29th STREET is advertised as "GOODFELLAS meets IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE", and I can see why they make that claim. It's a feel good kind of movie with no death and no violence inspite of the mafia's presence--the whole thing has a sort of Damon Runyon flavor to it in that respect. But its real story centers around Pesce's family and in particular his relationship with his father. This movie has got it all, it's funny, its touching, and the acting is Oscar worthy with truly stunning performances from Danny Aiello as the father and Australian born Anthony LaPaglia as the son. Try it, you'll like it. (By the way, before you get bent out of shape, I'm half Italian too.)
  • repol22
    December 8, 2008
    repol22
    funny and awesome and anthony la paglia is hot!
  • 9lives353
    July 30, 2007
    9lives353
    "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 tha...( read more)t 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.

    "29th Street" is an engaging sleeper hit.
  • larkart
    June 17, 2007
    larkart
    This is the story of the first NY state lottery winner with a wonderful cast and a delightful delivery. A MUST SEE!
  • purerockfury
    June 6, 2007
    purerockfury
    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 strug...( read more)gles daily just to make ends meet. Excellent movie all around.
  • themoose1975
    May 9, 2007
    themoose1975
    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!
  • prhirstuk
    September 28, 2006
    prhirstuk
    A great un-noticed feel good film!

Summary

29th Street Summary