Strictly Sinatra ** (2001, Ian Hart, Kelly Macdonald, Brian Cox, Alun Armstrong) – Classic Movie Review 9,492

Ian Hart from Liverpool manages a decent Scots accent and a nifty vocal impression of Frank Sinatra, as Toni Cocozza, a Scottish-Italian club crooner obsessed with Ol’ Blue Eyes, in writer-director Peter Capaldi’s 2001 British drama film Strictly Sinatra.

Writer-director Peter Capaldi’s 2001 British drama film Strictly Sinatra [Cocozza’s Way] finds Ian Hart starring as Toni Cocozza, aged 28, an aspiring Scottish-Italian Glasgow nightclub singer who croons like Frank Sinatra and dreams of being a famous popular lounge singer.

He falls in with gangsters, hoping that they will make him a star, and gets work from number two mobster Chisolm (Brian Cox), but betrays his aging pianist-manager Bill (Alun Armstrong) and his girlfriend Irene (Kelly Macdonald).

A good idea is largely wasted in a low-powered, uninspiring film, but the acting saves it, especially Kelly Macdonald and Brian Cox, and Liverpool-born Hart manages a decent Scots accent and a nifty vocal impression of Sinatra.

Armstrong took over at no notice when originally cast Ian Bannen died in a car crash accident near Loch Ness during a break in filming.

Richard E Grant and Jimmy Tarbuck appear as themselves.

Also in the cast are Tommy Flanagan, Iain Cuthbertson, Una McLean, Jimmy Chisholm, Jimmy Yuill, Stewart Ennis, Paul Doonan, Anne Lacey, Alex Howden, Douglas Eadie, Jamie Murphy, Brian McDermott, Alex McAvoy, Pauline Lockhart, Billy McColl, Calum Beaton and Iain Fraser.

Strictly Sinatra [Cocozza’s Way] is directed by Peter Capaldi, runs 97 minutes, is made by DNA Films, Saracen Street and Arts Council of England, is released by Universal  Pictures (UK), is written by Peter Capaldi, is shot by Stephen Blackman, is produced by Andrew Macdonald (executive producer) and Ruth Kenley-Letts, is scored by Stanislas Syrewicz, and designed by Martyn John.

Glasgow-born Peter Capaldi played The Doctor in 46 episodes of the TV series Doctor Who from 2008 to 2017. He is the 1995 Oscar winner for Best Short Film, Live Action, for Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life, tied with Trevor (1994), so it is shared with Ruth Kenley-Letts.

Kelly Macdonald was also born and raised in Glasgow. Iain Cuthbertson was born on 4 January 1930 in Glasgow. Brian Cox was born in Dundee.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9,492

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