The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971)

funny movie

loved this movie. I remembered it from the time it first was in theaters but never saw the DVD anywhere. The stereotypes are hysterical. October 1, 2008

C'est terrible

I've read Jimmy Breslin's book on which this movie was based. The book is at least 10 times better than the movie. The book, which was great, has been so dissected here to make this very bad film. I cannot begin to understand how such a good story could result in such tripe. Robert DeNiro was very young and naive to agree to be any part of this, and it pains me to watch such a great actor be involved in this .
Here are a few things in particular that make this such a disappointment. First, when you read the book Breslin goes into great detail about what happens in certain parts of the story. You'd think whoever wrote the screenplay would have taken this into account, but neglects to for some kind of convenience, or thinking that whoever sees this won't appreciate it. Second, DeNiro's character in the book decides to stay in New York to pursue an art career. They forego this aspect of his character in the movie, and you wonder why. This gives his character some added dimension in the book, and he encounters some interesting people because of this. Instead Mario (who DeNiro plays) is just made out to be a petty thief. Third, the Kid Sally Palombo character is diluted in the movie. In the book you really get a sense of who this guy is, and his importance in the story, as with some of his cohorts. In the film they're all just a bunch of keystone cop kind of wiseguys.
I don't know if this review will help anyone. If you don't believe me, read the highly entertaining book then watch this, or vice versa. If you read the book first, prepare for disappointment when you see the film. This story offered a lot of potential and was dumbed down to make a film. February 18, 2008

Bought This For A Friend

I got this as a gift for a friend and he was really happy with it. He laughed so hard! January 7, 2008

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

A lot of great talent but, Takes too long to get to the point. -- Don't bother May 13, 2007

Really, it isn't all that bad

This flick is getting panned by reviewers who measure it with the yardstick of DeNiro's other work and Orbach's later greatness as Lennie Briscoe in "Law & Order", but if the truth be known, it's a precursor of "Johnny Dangerously". Orbach plays Kid Sally Palumbo, a "young Turk" of the Mob, resentful of his boss Baccala (Lionel Stander), who has the cliche "moustache Pete" old-line contempt for Kid Sally's small faction. Urged on by his grandmother Big Mama (Jo Van Fleet), he follows her advice not to take anything from anybody. When the Palumbo faction is finally rounded up by the cops, she has a lot to say to news cameras after Kid Sally just flips them the bird. Her first two bits of invective make broadcast as they watch themselves on the news, but then censors start to bleep her out. At that point, she leaps to her feet and shakes her fist at the screen, denying that she'd ever said "beep". The later work "Johnny Dangerously" was dismissed as "puerile" by reviewers and so it was. So's this one, but there's a certain entertainment value to "dopey fun", as you see every night of the week on TV's "reality shows". But they don't get slammed very much. I wonder why. November 27, 2006

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