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Family Business
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Family Business (1989) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 9 | slideshow) Videos
Family Business (1989) -- US Home Video Trailer from Tristar

Overview

User Rating:
5.4/10   4,879 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Sidney Lumet
Writers (WGA):
Vincent Patrick (novel)
Vincent Patrick (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Family Business on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 December 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Comedy more
Tagline:
There's nothing like a good robbery... to bring a family together.
Plot:
Jessie is an ageing career criminal who has been in more jails, fights, schemes, and lineups than just about anyone else... more | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Cinematical Rewind: Actors Who Could Play Siblings
 (From Cinematical. 8 July 2009, 8:02 PM, PDT)

Another Writer Claims Hannah Montana as His Own
 (From E! Online. 28 January 2009, 7:13 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Reasonable little drama if not totally convincing more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sean Connery ... Jessie McMullen

Dustin Hoffman ... Vito McMullen

Matthew Broderick ... Adam McMullen
Rosanna DeSoto ... Elaine (as Rosana DeSoto)
Janet Carroll ... Margie, Waitress at Dohenys
Victoria Jackson ... Christine, Adam's Girl
Bill McCutcheon ... Danny Doheny, Bar Owner
Deborah Rush ... Michele Dempsey, Adam's Lawyer
Marilyn Cooper ... Rose Gruden, Elaine's Mother
Salem Ludwig ... Nat Gruden, Elaine's Dad
Rex Everhart ... Ray Garvey, Jessie's Lawyer
James Tolkan ... Judge in 2nd Trial (as James S. Tolkan)
Marilyn Sokol ... Marie, Vitel Meat Bookeeper
Thomas A. Carlin ... Neary the Undertaker
Tony DiBenedetto ... Phil, Selling Things That Fell Off a Truck
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Sean Connery is only seven years older than Dustin Hoffman, but plays his father. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Two stains on the right shoulder area of Adam's jacket appear and disappear during his argument with his father outside the cafe. more
Quotes:
Jessie: Hey, you bald-headed prick! Don't you ever get caught on the take. Because if you wind up in any joint I'm in, you'll leave feet first. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful:-
Reasonable little drama if not totally convincing, 11 January 2004
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

Jessie McMullen is a career thief. His son Vito runs a meat processing plant but has criminal links but has made sure that his son, Adam, has had the best education and not turned to the life of his father and grandfather. However this privilege has caused a rift between Adam and Vito and has drawn Adam to Jessie. When Adam brings Jessie in on a job, Vito reluctantly joins in as his only way of protecting Adam. However when Adam is arrested it causes conflict between the three.

It is clear that the cast is the major draw for this drama, that is very talky but still reasonably effective drama that relies more on generational tensions than crime hi-jinks. The film sees a job planned and executed midway in the film, with the second half being the fallout for the failure of the job. The build up is pretty good and the second half just about manages to be involving even if it more or less talks itself to death.

The director keeps it very heavy, but could really have done with developing the characters in a more entertaining manner, this would have made the heavier emotional conclusion a sweeter pill to swallow. As it is it is still pretty enjoyable as a drama and the cast do well to deliver the rather weighty material. Connery and Hoffman are far too close in age to play father and son and, even with makeup to make Hoffman look younger, it doesn't really work. However both are alright in their roles and carry the material. Broderick makes up a talented trio that make the film worth seeing. They interact really well and rise above the material.

Overall this is a heavy but enjoyable drama. The material isn't great and it could have done with being a bit shorter or a bit lighter on it's feet. As it is the drama doesn't totally work as emotions aren't totally allowed to let rip until the end, but which time things are a little slow to be really gripping.

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Bald headed.... Thorpe89
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