The Funeral **** (1996, Christopher Walken, Chris Penn) – Classic Movie Review 259

‘God made  the world. I’m just makin’ do with what I got.’ – Ray Tempio.

Abel Ferrara’s critically acclaimed 1996 Mob family crime drama, set in New York in the Depression era of the 1930s, is particularly moody, intelligent and rousing.

Christopher Walken and Chris Penn are on scalding form as mobsters Ray and Chez Tempio, whose brother Johnny (Vincent Gallo) is shot dead. Ray sets out to deal with this family tragedy, but his wife Jeanette (Annabella Sciorra) doesn’t want him to avenge the killing, while the crazed Chez’s wife Clara (Isabella Rossellini) is having a bad time. The world of crime is threatening to pull them all down.

This is great, often brilliant stuff from inspired director Ferrara, turning in a very good-looking movie and making the most of Nicholas St John’s crackling screenplay, finding fresh ground in familiar situations. Benicio Del Toro, Gretchen Mol, John Ventimiglia, Victor Argo and Edie Falco are also among the fine cast. Ken Kelsch’s cinematography is outstanding.

Both very charismatic, Walken is remarkable once again and Gallo is very strong in his brief role. Penn (dead at 40 in 2006) gives one of the best performances of his career as the short-tempered middle brother, winning the Volpi Cup for Best Supporting Actor at the Venice Film Festival.

It’s a vastly underrated and underseen movie from the director of King of New York, Bad Lieutenant and The Addiction.

http://derekwinnert.com/king-of-new-york-classic-film-review-182/

(C) Derek Winnert Classic Film Review 259 derekwinnert.com