Like "The Progeny", this film was made available to me by the nice people at Sterling Entertainment. Also like "The Progeny", this movie isn't exactly one of my all-time faves, but it's not bad if you go into it knowing what to expect.
--John
Money Kings
Directors: Graham Theakston
Producers: E. Miguel Valenti and Michael Paseornek
Writers: Paul Hapenny
Features: Interactive Menus, Scene Index, Production Notes, Theatrical Trailer, Standard 1.33:1, ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo, SUBTITLES Spanish
Characters:
Vinnie Glynn - Peter Falk
TonyCicero - Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Mary Beth Peterson - Lauren Holly
Frankie Peterson - Andy Hutton
Genre: Drama
Review:
Like "The Progeny", this film was made available to me by the nice people at Sterling Entertainment. Also like "The Progeny", this movie isn't exactly one of my all-time faves, but it's not bad if you go into it knowing what to expect. The film had no theatrical release, and it shows, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Money Kings" boasts a little more psuedo-star power than most other movies of this ilk -- the average viewer will most likely recognize all of the principles (and even be able to name them!). Unfortunately, recognizability isn't necessarily synonymous with fabulous acting, especially in the case of Freddie Prinze, Jr. As Tony Cicero, the cocky up-and-coming young nephew of a local upper-echelon thug, he delivers a suitably annoying but less than flawless performance. Peter Falk is basically doing Columbo. Andy Hutton doesn't have a very demanding part -- he's comotose in a drunken stooper through the majority of the film. Last, but certainly not least, Lauren Holly does a good job -- definitely the best in the movie.
The DVD itself is pretty subpar. There are no extras to speak of -- not even English subtitles (which I like to have available for translations of difficult to understand dialogue) -- except the trailer. The sound is fine, but this is the first DVD I have seen that really looks bad. There is a lot of grain in some scenes, as well as some distortion and shimmer. I only had one player available to test it with, but I am pretty sure this is a software problem.
There's not a lot more to say about "Money Kings", really. I expect to see it on Up All Night or TNT's equivalent in 7 or 8 years, and it won't seem tremendously out of place.
---John