This Thing of Ours (2002)

40% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(238 ratings)

Grandnephew of the famous mobster known as Tony Pro, Danny Provenzano is the co-writer, director, and star of the independent crime drama This Thing of Ours (the title is a literal translation of the crime organization La Cosa Nostra). Provenzano plays young mobster Nick Santini, who wishes to… More Grandnephew of the famous mobster known as Tony Pro, Danny Provenzano is the co-writer, director, and star of the independent crime drama This Thing of Ours (the title is a literal translation of the crime organization La Cosa Nostra). Provenzano plays young mobster Nick Santini, who wishes to impress his Uncle Danny (Frank Vincent) and the other elders of a New Jersey mob. Nick plans a major bank heist with his old pal Robert Biaggio (Christian Maelen) and computer geek Austin Palermo (Louis Vanaria). Using a complicated Internet scam to distort a communications satellite, they plan to steal more than 50 million dollars. Nick is eventually stuck with having to choose between his friends and the mob when high-ranking Patsy DeGrazio (Michael DelGaizo) kidnaps Austin. This Thing of Ours also stars Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), James Caan (The Godfather), and Pat Cooper (Analyze This). Incidentally, Provenzano was arresting in 1999 under a 44-count felony indictment that included charges of racketeering, kidnapping, and money laundering. He eventually pleaded guilty to racketeering and was scheduled to begin a ten-year prison sentence in August 2003, just weeks after his film is released. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Danny Provenzano
Written By: Danny Provenzano, Ted A. Bohus
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jul 18, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 7, 2006
Studio: Small Planet

Critic Reviews

Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune
The whole operation loses its tension, allowing the story to drift into amusing but familiar territory.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
None of this is overly interesting, thanks to murky plotting and the fact that there's nothing involving about these bad guys.
Megan Lehmann, New York Post
Rings with authenticity and solid acting.
Dave Kehr, New York Times
For all of his personal familiarity with the material, Mr. Provenzano has turned out a movie that largely owes its tone and style to other movies.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Cliche-ridden and ponderous.
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
Little tension is generated in the resulting internecine squabbles, but there's ample opportunity for the familiar supporting cast ... to wax warm and witty.
Brad Slager, Film Threat
As a modern mob fable there is plenty to impress, as Provenzano's documented legal troubles bring validation to the story and the appearances of Pastore and Vincent bring credibility to the screen.
Kim Williamson, Boxoffice Magazine
It looks fine, it plays fine, it sounds fine, but it has no consequence.
, E! Online
It's no GoodFellas, but it's still a reasonably good time.
Jack Zink, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The action is furious and gory, though not always fast, and the slow between-shootouts pacing doesn't generate much interest or character development.
Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
The movie has no personal touch; it merely assembles a who's who of mob-movie heavyweights (James Caan and Frank Vincent among them) and hopes for the best.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[A] familiar but well-told tale.