Rob the Mob

Love, Crime, the Mafia & Christmas in New York!

It is not often that I watch a movie that totally moves me. In all honestly I did not think that a movie with a title like, Rob the Mob, would be one I found myself being moved by. Yet, I was wrong, as I have so often been in the past. I’ve never heard of this film or its director Ralph De Felitta and writer Jonathan Fernandez. The movie is based on a true story (I did not know of this prior to watching the film) of a couple that robs the mob during the highly publicized trial of mafia boss John Gotti. I was one of those kids growing up that read all the mobster books and watched any movie about it. Oddly, my brother, mother and I would often share mobster books like Henry Hill’s WiseGuys; we would each take turns reading chapters and passing it on to one another. Certainly, I would have imagined this tale of lovebird criminals that were labeled by media as “Bonnie & Clyde” would have made headlines past New York, but I guess not.

Anyhow, one of the reason I really enjoyed this movie is that it reminded me of another film I watched when I was a high school punk/mod kid so much that I memorized the lines, that movie being -“Sid & Nancy”.  Rob the Mob and "Sid and Nancy” both tell the tale of two lovesick lovebirds, filled with irrational passion and they break laws, do drugs, are abhorred by family, friends and find themselves each other’s saviors. Just as sick puppies the only thing that makes their souls thrive is being together in twisted young love. And just as "Sid and Nancy’s" love ends tragically, Rosie and Tommy follow suit.

Rob the Mob is great. I mean the love story that Fernandez and De Felitta create is gorgeous, you cannot help but love Tommy & Rosie right back. Nina Arianda plays Rosie and she even looks a little like Nancy from Sid and Nancy, she is blond, puffy faced and with an annoying screeching voice but she is charming on screen and she just follows Michael Pitt’s character Tommy around like he is a Zeus himself. Tommy also resembles Sid Vicious a little. He has dark unkempt hair, pale white skin, a lanky disposition and a vulnerable bad boy quality that is addictive.

Rob the Mob is not only a love story. It is also a bit of Mafia history because of Tommy & Rosie how the FBI views the mafia will never be the same again. Tommy & Rosie's crazy love and crime spree changes everything. Andy Garcia plays Big Al and he is phenomenal. Garcia is such a great actor and in this movie he is perfect. Ray Romano also, wow, he just wowed me. Who would have thought that the guy from “Everybody loves Raymond” could pull this part off, but he did, boy did he.

If you haven’t watched this movie, watch it. It is worth the time. The only flaw I found in the movie is the music. The story is such a beautiful tale, so honest and interesting, everything was filmed on the streets of New York for that reason it needed a better soundtrack, better music. The entire movie is so good I didn’t get up once. I sipped on tea and snacked on raisins but never budged from my seat. When the ending rolled around, I only wished I could have watched the last three minutes over and over again. It was like a beautiful symphony. I didn’t want it to end and neither will you.

~ Reviewed by Francine

Anthem Book Review

Fresno, CA   

What is the What

"and someday you will find your own jailer's daughter, and in her you will bring light." ~Father Matong

 

I am the jailer’s daughter. I have become her. Valentino Achak Deng’s words providing me a sight I never knew existed. My vision was dimmed to parts of the world. But Achak’s memories and words gently formed by Eggers, granted me light.  From this light I have learned a valuable lesson. This was a prophesy spoke to Achak by Father Matong while at a refugee camp in Ethiopia. And I believe it came to pass while reading What is the What and I believe anyone that reads this book the same shall happen to them. I just completed this book today. I stayed up late last night and spent a good part of my early morning reading What is the What. It seemed to take me forever to read this book. It is long 532 pages to be exact, but with an increased font size of one point it would have easily doubled to 1064 pages, nevertheless; it was well worth it.

We in America are such a privileged people. Even our poorest and lost have options and opportunities readily available. In Sudan they have no such assistance. I don’t think our western minds could bare such destruction in life, both to property and to life. Reading firsthand what occurred in Sudan during a war that lasted over 20 years is baffling. It seemed unbelievable. There were times I had to stop reading. I often shook my head in disbelief and sighed in horror. Yet, I did not skip a word. I did not skim a sentence. I did not speed-read through one paragraph. I wanted, needed to take it all in. In doing so, I have been changed. The atrocities that happen against human rights in Sudan must be stopped. Although this book was written in 2006 the injustice against Sudanese still exists.

Saturday morning as I was enjoying my early morning cup of coffee, sitting on the leather recliner with books, a newspaper and my Kindle surrounding me, the windows open allowing the sun to light my home, the cool morning air entering, I was comforted in the stability provided; comforted by the privilege freedom and a stable government brings me. I began to read the BBC news and to my astonishment read that a multitude of women in Southern Sudan had been raped, that over 50,000 children face the possibility of death because of wide spread famine and diseases. I thought to myself, is this not what I am reading in What is the What, could it be that the same conditions that Achak speaks of in his book still remain in Sudan. How is one to hear of such horror and think we in America have it bad? Nothing can compare to what Sudanese bare everyday of their lives. This book has changed me. I hope that if you have not yet read this book, you will. What is the What should be required reading for every human on earth. It is too powerful to not be read. It will shed light on a dark place of the world and scream for you to do something., to help.

I will review this book next.  I encourage you to read it. I encourage you to visit Achak’s website and become familiar with his cause.  Again, Dave Eggers does not disappoint. I swear Eggers can do no wrong. He is easily one of the best, if not the best writers of our time.

Valentino Achak Deng Foundation

www.vadfoundation.org

~Francine

Wow! Who is BJ Ward???

Wow! Who is BJ Ward? I halted sleep an extra hour for him, read his poem "Resurrection" twice in silence, then again out loud.

In the current issue of "The Normal School" Fresno's best literary mag I came across his poem tucked in the corner of page #51. It took my breath away, far away and my slumber too. So moved by this work of art, I woke in urgency and had to blog to tell readers YOU MUST BUY THIS MAGAZINE...YOU MUST READ... YOU MUST DISCOVER BJ WARD THE POET.

I Googled him. I love poetry.  I have now found a new favorite modern-day poet. ahhhh poetry truly makes my heart beat a new rhythm.  It has saved me time and time again. Tonight this... BJ Ward and his words will send me to sleep in peace.

-did Eve turn to Adam knowing the globe had him......pause, then whisper........ "bite the apple.We'll construct a chapel--"? - BJ Ward

Such lovely words to a lovely poem.  So glad I stayed up a tad later than usual to read The Normal School.

Happy Reading!

Francine ♥