The Family
The “Blake” family have just moved to Normandy in France. They are actually a mob family, led by Giovanni Manzoni, from Brooklyn NY. They are in Witness Protection, under the supervision of FBI agent Stansfield.
Don Luchese, who Gio ratted out, is now in prison is desperate to find him and get revenge. As the family try to assimilate to their new home, will the Don’s people find them?
Direction
Written and Directed by Luc Besson, it is sound – and while it doesn’t have as many great shots or stunning takes as he has done in the past (Leon, The Fifth Element), it does what it is supposed to.
Cast/Characters
Robert DeNiro’s Gio has some genuinely frightening moments where he shows how dangerous he can be. He is writing his ‘memoir’ throughout, and he feels a little too much like his Paul Vitti character from the ‘Analyze’ movies – where he needs to let his feelings out.
Michelle Pfeiffer gets my MVP as Maggie, Gio’s wife. She has the screen presence that shows her confidence of someone who stands up to her husband, and those around her that show her disrespect. I loved her Brooklyn accent too. I wish more of her ‘pyromaniac’ moments were seen.
Diana Agron of Glee fame plays Belle, the well written daughter of Gio and Maggie, her arc has her fall in love for the first time – and also has some fun moments in the third act.
John D’Leo is also solid as Warren, Gio and Maggie’s manipulative son. He too gets a fun few moments throughout – and joins the ‘fun’ with Agron in the third act.
Tommy Lee Jones plays Stansfield (homage?) the FBI agent in charge of keeping the Blake’s safe. He walks in and out of the film at times, and is underused.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
The blend of ‘comedy/drama/thriller’ is a little misguided. It tries to be funny, but the characteristics of the family are a little too aggressive.
Despite the fairly violent third act, there never really seemed to be any true threat to the family – and they always felt quite ‘safe’.
The family also, for the most parts are never truly written as inherently ‘good’ people. Gio is clearly a bad person from the get go, but we root for him because he is the protagonist of this story, and he’s played by Robert DeNiro.
There is also a lot of ‘nothing’ that goes on, and the only obstacle occurs in the final ten minutes, with DeNiro and Jones barely contributing to the finale act.
Score/Soundtrack
I loved the European style score that had an almost ‘mafioso’ type tone to it.
Overall
A good cast, with some ‘well enough at times’ written characters, but it left me wanting more.
Still a recommend.
3.5/5
If you’re able to, please “buy me a coffee”