The Family (2013)

The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the Witness Protection Program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging, as their old habits die hard.

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Luc Besson (screenplay), Michael Caleo (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Fred Blake / Giovanni Manzoni
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Maggie Blake
Dianna Agron	...	Belle Blake
John D'Leo	...	Warren Blake
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Robert Stansfield
Jimmy Palumbo	...	Di Cicco
Domenick Lombardozzi	...	Caputo
Stan Carp	...	Don Luchese
Vincent Pastore	...	Fat Willy
Jon Freda	...	Rocco
Michael J. Panichelli Jr.	...	Billy the Bug
Paul Borghese	...	Albert
Anthony Desio	...	Bernie
Ted Arcidi	...	Tommy
David Belle	...	Mezzo

Storyline

A mafia boss and his family are relocated to a sleepy town in France under the witness protection program after snitching on the mob. Despite the best efforts of FBI Agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) to keep them in line, Fred Manzoni (Robert De Niro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and their children Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D'Leo) can't help but revert to old habits and blow their cover by handling their problems the "family" way, enabling their former mafia cronies to track them down. Chaos ensues as old scores are settled in the unlikeliest of settings.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | france | family dog | barbeque grill | girl beating up a boy | 

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Taglines:

Michelle Pfeiffer is one bad mother

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features TommyLee Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer, both of whom played Batman villains. Two Face and Catwoman, respectively.

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Goofs

When Giovanni is talking to the man at the sewage plant, the plant man's glasses are spattered with something. When he turns to the side, they're clean, and when he turns back to Giovanni, they're dirty again.

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Quotes

Fred Blake: Can't you just sit down and relax and enjoy it? In our long friendship, this is our first ever guys' night out.
Robert Stansfield: [scoffing] Friendship?
Fred Blake: Yeah. I mean, you're probably the guy I hate the most in this whole fuckin' world, but we've known each other what, nine, ten years already? My freedom is based on the deep respect that I have for you.
Robert Stansfield: Explain how that works. How can we have a friendship when you hate me?
Fred Blake: It works just fine. Look at my best friends, I killed them all.
Robert Stansfield: [speechless]
Fred Blake: Just kidding.

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning, the words "father", "mother", "son" and "daughter" are shown and intersected. Some of the letters vanish, and the remaining ones spell the film's title.

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Connections

References Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine (1913)

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Soundtracks

The Greatest
Written by Cat Power
Performed by Cat Power
Copyright 2006 Matador Records Limited
Published by Mattitude Music, a division of Beggars represented by Because Editions
Licensed Courtesy of Matador Records Ltd.
By Arrangement with Beggars Group Media Limited

User Reviews

Low expectations but high Hopes. Exceeded both!

When I received the premier passes to see "The Family", I was really expecting with such great actors/actresses, that this movie would be good; but more-so expecting it to fall flat like so many before it. I was greatly surprised.

The Movie is based on the French author Tonino Benacquista's novel Malavita, which is know as Badfellas in America. And "BadFellas" is an interesting way to view this film. It does have all the wonderful elements of the great Mobster movies, but with a touch more humor. The family dynamic is a refreshing one that invokes what a modern mob family would probably be going through. You found yourself "going" for the family as a whole and not singling out one for their idiocy.

The movie starts off fast to quickly usher you thorough the character introductions and development, which is a good thing, because it allows you to experience their personality and growth throughout the film. You watch the stupid mistakes of a teenage girl, a boy who's intuitive yet still flawed. A mother who's trying to do the best she can to hold her family together, and a remorseful (somewhat) father.

If you are wanting Goodfellas or Casino, this isn't it. What this IS is DEFINITELY what "Analyze This" could have been if it was a better movie. There is plenty of action, and the previews don't give away the best of the movie. It is definitely a must see and Smush Approved.

www.Facebook.com/SmushPub

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA France

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

13 September 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Family

Filming Locations:

Studios de Paris, La Cité du Cinéma, Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,034,764, 15 September 2013

Gross USA:

$36,918,811

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$78,418,811

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Relativity Media, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1