Beautiful Blue-Collar Movie

Rating: 9/10 (9 March 2004)

Prior to my brief comments, I just want to say that the classical guitar themesong(i.e. Cavatina As used in the film The Deer Hunter,Composed by Stanley Myers with John Williams) is an emotional and soul stirring song that perhaps captures in music what many returning Vietnam Veterans, God bless them, felt.
The part of this movie that grabs me the most is the wonderful and accurate depiction of a hard-working, working class small town and the strong bonds of friendship that exist in such places. The small town is a dying entity in America and this movie shows the lives of faith, friendship, and fun that exist in them. The circle of friends each having their own unique personality and problems, the one bar that they flock to and that one of them runs, the friends all cleaned up for The Orthodox Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, etc. all testify to the pure quality of this movie.
Additionally, DeNiro, as Michael, gives a performance equal to his role in The Godfather. The Russian element and the beautiful clips of The Faith of The Russian Orthodox was splendid, and had it not been a part of the movie the film would have lost much of its flavor. The Russian Roulette with the VC screaming GUN ZU MOW is a scene that you'll always remember.
There is so much more to say about this movie that I am absolutely in
love with, but this shall suffice. In Conclusion, SEE THIS MOVIE, it is a true CLASSIC.