Cinemook films presents "Back To Manhattan," Writer/Director Rob Reilly's debut feature film, and I gotta say I am really impressed. I watched it for the fourth time this week. It gets funnier each time! How can I describe it? Let's see... it's kind of like "The Sopranos" meets "Seinfeld" with some Three Stooges slapstick thrown in for good measure.
It's a day in the lives of two low-rent Wiseguy knucklehead Loansharks named Frankie and Paulie, played brilliantly by Eddie Sicoli and Paul Dunleavy. Paulie is the kind of guy who gets chocolate all over his face eating an éclair -- he enjoys practical jokes... like tormenting world weary Frankie with the novelty toy "Alien Recorder," a mimicking device, and trying to pick up girls with the worlds oldest and awfullest one liners -- "I may not be Fred Flintstone, but I'm sure I can make your bedrock." Believe it or not Paulie's pickup techniques work on Donna aka Ami Colon, who sets Frankie up with her amazon gal pal Sue Fox so the foursome can go on a double date in a brief subplot. But the film is mostly about Frankie and Paulie's adventures trying to collect a debt from Johnny and Stevie aka Justin Allen and Steve Devito, two deadbeat nitwit barflies who cook up a hair-brained get rich quick scheme in an effort to avoid hot water. Things only get worse for John and Steve as they woefully attempt purse snatching and muggings, only to be rebuffed at every turn.
A parallel story line in New Jersey introduces us to die-hard Mets fan Jack aka Michael MacKewice and his well meaning knockout girlfriend Karen aka Lora Pfeiffer. Jack is a likable but hapless schmo who has the uncanny ability to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Karen drives Jack into the city to return her bosses loaner car, they go separate ways and agree to meet later. As the story unfolds Jack is mistakenly perceived as a masturbating motorist, a mustard spraying troublemaker, a bat wielding thug, a wedding crasher (literally), and a boobs staring pervert. Of course Jack really isn't any of these things, but try telling that to the angry mob chasing him through the streets of New York City. Mayhem ensues as this comedy of errors plays out to a surprising and funny conclusion.
Reilly's run and gun style of film-making is very compelling, always keeping the audience interested and involved and wanting more. The film was made for a mere $18,000.00, and I had a million questions about how this is even possible, but most were answered in the DVD Director commentary section, which is almost as entertaining as the film itself. There's fun facts, trivia, and technical tidbits. For example: did you know it's OK to shoot hand-held in NYC, but you needed insurance and permits to use a camera mounted on a tripod? Or that when Rob Reilly rented two Petty Cabs for chase scenes, he also hired their drivers (Richard Warner and Eyzar Derrick) as actors? You'll also no doubt really dig the grunge soundtrack, especially tunes from Jason Morphew.
Move over John Sayles, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Rob Reilly. The BackToManhattan.com website says a sequel is in the works called "Frankie and Paulie's Big Scratch" -- really looking forward to that and more from this bright young Director. Congratulations on your film-making debut, Rob -- this one's a keeper.
It's a day in the lives of two low-rent Wiseguy knucklehead Loansharks named Frankie and Paulie, played brilliantly by Eddie Sicoli and Paul Dunleavy. Paulie is the kind of guy who gets chocolate all over his face eating an éclair -- he enjoys practical jokes... like tormenting world weary Frankie with the novelty toy "Alien Recorder," a mimicking device, and trying to pick up girls with the worlds oldest and awfullest one liners -- "I may not be Fred Flintstone, but I'm sure I can make your bedrock." Believe it or not Paulie's pickup techniques work on Donna aka Ami Colon, who sets Frankie up with her amazon gal pal Sue Fox so the foursome can go on a double date in a brief subplot. But the film is mostly about Frankie and Paulie's adventures trying to collect a debt from Johnny and Stevie aka Justin Allen and Steve Devito, two deadbeat nitwit barflies who cook up a hair-brained get rich quick scheme in an effort to avoid hot water. Things only get worse for John and Steve as they woefully attempt purse snatching and muggings, only to be rebuffed at every turn.
A parallel story line in New Jersey introduces us to die-hard Mets fan Jack aka Michael MacKewice and his well meaning knockout girlfriend Karen aka Lora Pfeiffer. Jack is a likable but hapless schmo who has the uncanny ability to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Karen drives Jack into the city to return her bosses loaner car, they go separate ways and agree to meet later. As the story unfolds Jack is mistakenly perceived as a masturbating motorist, a mustard spraying troublemaker, a bat wielding thug, a wedding crasher (literally), and a boobs staring pervert. Of course Jack really isn't any of these things, but try telling that to the angry mob chasing him through the streets of New York City. Mayhem ensues as this comedy of errors plays out to a surprising and funny conclusion.
Reilly's run and gun style of film-making is very compelling, always keeping the audience interested and involved and wanting more. The film was made for a mere $18,000.00, and I had a million questions about how this is even possible, but most were answered in the DVD Director commentary section, which is almost as entertaining as the film itself. There's fun facts, trivia, and technical tidbits. For example: did you know it's OK to shoot hand-held in NYC, but you needed insurance and permits to use a camera mounted on a tripod? Or that when Rob Reilly rented two Petty Cabs for chase scenes, he also hired their drivers (Richard Warner and Eyzar Derrick) as actors? You'll also no doubt really dig the grunge soundtrack, especially tunes from Jason Morphew.
Move over John Sayles, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Rob Reilly. The BackToManhattan.com website says a sequel is in the works called "Frankie and Paulie's Big Scratch" -- really looking forward to that and more from this bright young Director. Congratulations on your film-making debut, Rob -- this one's a keeper.
Tell Your Friends