sydneyswesternsuburbs Director and writer Jesse V. Johnson who also created other classic flicks, The Butcher 2009, The Fifth Commandment 2008 and Pit Fighter 2005 has created another gem in Charlie Valentine.Starring Raymond J. Barry who has also been in other classic flicks, Training Day 2001, Dead Man Walking 1995, Falling Down 1993, Rapid Fire 1992, Born on the Fourth of July 1989 and Year of the Dragon 1985.Also starring Michael Weatherly.Also starring James Russo who has also been in other classic flicks, Stiletto 2008, No Way Home 1996, My Own Private Idaho 1991, State of Grace 1990 and Once Upon a Time in America 1984.Also starring Tom Berenger who has also been in other classic flicks, Stiletto also with James Russo, Sniper 2 2002, Training Day 2001, Born on the Fourth of July also with Raymond J. Barry and Platoon 1986.Also starring Steven Bauer who has also been in other classic flicks, The Beast of War 1988, Scarface 1983 and another Jesse V. Johnson classic flick, Pit Fighter.Also starring Keith David who has also been in other classic flicks, Transporter 2 2005, Requiem for a Dream 2000, Pitch Black 2000, There's Something About Mary 1998, Armageddon 1998, Marked for Death 1990, Executive Target 1997, Volcano 1997, The Quick and the Dead 1995, Gamer 2009, Platoon also with Tom Berenger, The Thing 1982 and other classic Jesse V. Johnson flicks, The Butcher and The Fifth Commandment.I enjoyed the violence and shootouts.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic heist flicks, 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out 2003, Bonnie and Clyde 1967, Bottle Rocket 1996, The Getaway 1972, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man 1991, The Killing 1956, Killing Zoe 1993, Reservoir Dogs 1992, Den of Thieves 2018, Run Lola Run 1998, Stark Raving Mad 2002, Riders 2002, 3000 Miles to Graceland 2001, and The Town 2010.

bartolomeob-39-498653 I had the misfortune of coming across this while sitting in a hotel room on a business trip. Of the 5 channels the hotel received clearly, I had the choice between this, infomercials or religious programming. I mistakenly chose this.The action, story, effects, pacing, and well, everything in this was putrid. The dialog is so bad that if you made a drinking game out of each main characters name not a single participant would be living. The unlucky sob who got Charlie could be swilling non-alcoholic and still get alcohol poisoning. Nearly every line of interpersonal dialog begins with the other characters name.This would of been a bad movie in the 80's. In fact, I honestly thought it was from that time frame until I recognized the title character as being Arlo on Justified.I'd go into further detail, but honestly, the film doesn't deserve it. The only reason I felt it necessary to warn people is that the review that pops up on the movies main page was apparently written by the producers PR firm. Mentioning American Gangster as being comparable to this film was just flat out lying to the people who actually use these reviews to help them make a decision as to where to spend their hard earned money. Avoid this movie at all costs. This comes from someone who typically enjoys bad movies. It take a lot for me to recommend someone away from a movie. Often times I feel people should check something out if they're interested. This movie changed my beliefs as far as that methodology goes. If you're going to miss one movie this year, make damn sure it's this one.

cmoyton Raymond Barry is a decent bit part actor and here he is given the task of carrying the movie in the title role. He fails. His character is one of many unsympathetic and unlikable characters who mainly comprise of gangsters and strippers. The phrase no honour amongst thieves is applicable here as Charlie ends up on the run initially after seeing his gang wasted in an attempt to rob a fellow gangster friend played by James Russo. When Valentine hides out from a vengeful Russo with his son in LA the pair of them eventually embark on a robbery against the sons employer (also a gangster)and best friend which ends with fatal consequences for all concerned. Charlie and his son seem so inept that you wonder how the old man had survived in the business for so long. Before the climax much stomach churning father son bonding ensues a la "teach me all you know pops".A plethora of decent if now veteran actors are wasted in what for some are mere cameo roles. For a low budget movie some of the direction is decent and defies the budget however some of the editing is woeful (Although I am not sure if some of this may be due to censorship of the violence). An attempt at an act of contrition by Charlie as he weeps by his wife's graveside comes across as unintentionally funny as Barry only seems to be able to speak in the same monotone voice throughout the duration of the movie.At the climax Charlies conscience eats away at him as he flees the scene again for probably the first time in his life and he returns to try and save his son. This is after Russo had mysteriously walked right past him in the strip joint allowing him to escape. As i mentioned before the characters are so horrible that i raised a cheer when they all bought it at the end and was only left to rue the hour and a half i had just wasted. Avoid.

trinity-destler ...but the bad is pretty distracting.Though the cinematography is slick and attractive, the editing is extremely flawed. This leaves the film disjointed and choppy; certain scenes become complete non-sequiturs, some of the action gets muddy, and jump cuts occasionally get ahead of themselves. Another round in the editing room could seriously improve the storytelling, because the right elements for an extremely compelling and rewarding character drama are there, they're just poorly communicated. The structure of something great is present, but it isn't filled out.My second biggest problem was Raymond J. Barry. He was dull and often awkward as the eponymous gangster, there's only the occasional flash of the charisma and appeal his character is supposed to have. He delivers almost all his dialogue in an unsteady, disinterested mumble, and gritty realism may be unintelligible, but realism of that kind certainly puts a damper on the plot and characterisation. The other actors were uniformly excellent, especially Michael Weatherly who shone brilliantly in the last quarter of the film, though none of them have quite as much to do as they should. Danny and Charlie's Parole Officer both needed more development as individuals and a little more background would have helped the father/son relationship a lot.Give me a reason why Danny admires Charlie so much and I would have been more willing to go along for the ride with them. Their reunion and Charlie's allure and charm as a successful gangster was rushed past and barely present, respectively. Danny's first defining character trait is uneasiness with authority and a fervent desire to remain out of prison. Why does he then turn around and become a disciple of his father without any kind of intermediate process of rationalisation? Yes, he wants to hold on to his father at any cost, but where is the indecision and what about Charlie's behaviour resolves him? As it was, his hero worship and abandonment issues must be extrapolated and his anger with his father is more prominent than the idealisation that makes him want to follow in the old man's footsteps. I know where the story is coming from, because it is such a classic story, but I would have preferred to actually see it on the screen instead of inferring it.Basically, a clearer emotional progression was needed for Danny and frankly, I didn't find Charlie likable enough for his place in the story to function. He's despicable, but he should be charmingly despicable and I was not convinced he was charming.