Oscar (1991)

OSCAR is one of Sylvester Stallone's regretful forays into comedy. The action star himself isn't really as fault, as he tries very hard with the deadpanning, and John Landis's direction remains brisk and efficient. It's the the fact that the screenplay simply isn't very funny and all of the gangster characters are too similar to stand out. They end up blending into one which doesn't make for a very eventful movie. What this film does have is a fantastic cast, which is a speciality of Landis's. Tim Curry has a fine extended cameo as a speech therapist while a youthful Marisa Tomei is gorgeous and funny as Stallone's daughter. There are also plenty of smaller roles for the likes of Kurtwood Smith, Martin Ferrero and Yvonne De Carlo to help make the experience a little more bearable.

I think Ken Hanke's remark, when writing in North Carolina's "Mountain Xpress" newspaper, that 1991 film "Oscar" is a "bad idea badly executed" cuts closest to what I thought of this John Landis comedy than any other remark. Indeed, you cannot fault its ambition, and the film is not without the odd laugh, but I think there is a very real and very cutting reason Sylvester Stallone is not an actor especially synonymous with comedy and this film is it.There is a branch of film theory which looks at the careers of people such as Stallone and, to a greater extent, Arnold Schwarzenegger in a post-Cold War world; namely, that without an enemy, in the form of the Soviet Union, for the American film industry to flex its muscles toward in the form of a "Rambo" series, big-money action stars such as the aforementioned Stallone and Schwarzenegger are redundant in the same way a vast arsenal of weaponry capable of untold destruction might be.With Reagan out of the White House (and the more effeminate, 'catch-all' William Clinton in), and with the American nation lacking in an ideological enemy, it is no wonder that films such as "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!"; "Junior" and, indeed, "Oscar" became more prominent in the output of either of these actors. Actioners were still made, but the leads in these films suddenly seemed vulnerable – the protagonists in "Eraser" and "Cliffhanger" were no longer really the gun-toting action heroes they would have been a decade earlier. Counter-arguments might be made with regards to "Judge Dread" and "Demolition Man".As for "Oscar", it is tough to think that the film is anything else other than close to terrible. It becomes too carried away by its own premise, and even begins to come across as quite arrogant in its thinking that we will embrace the approach to its material – that of a frenetic series of events which causes numerous comedic comings-and-goings. Meanwhile, one grows weary of being cooped up in the lead character's huge Chicago mansion, and begins to long for some sort of adventure or characterisation set outside of it. By the final reel, John Landis is relying on the spectacle of Sylvester Stallone emptying out onto a desk a handbag of lady's underwear to induce a laugh. Needless to say, it doesn't arrive.In early 1930's prohibition America, Stallone is Angelo Provolone – an Italian-American gangster at the peak of his powers in protection and liquor racketeering. His tale unfolds over a single day one month on from his father's death and on the brink of a major investment deal with a local bank whereby Stallone's outfit will leave the criminal underworld and go 'straight'. There are amusing references, amusing for the fact they are eerily topical 25 years on, as to just how 'straight' Angelo's outfit will be now that he is wrapped up in the banking industry. His reason for doing this was brought on by his father who, on his death-bed, emphasised how Stallone's actions as a mobster brought shame on the Provolone family name. Thus, Angelo seeks to do his father proud in hindsight of this revelation and become law-abiding.But the film is far from the touching, soul-shattering tale of redemption it ought to have been as a son strives to fulfil a dying wish. Surely the respectable thing would have been to begin again from the bottom of a different career ladder and work one's way up."Oscar" essentially comes to form a series of comedic interludes set in one very large house which revolve around far too many different characters wanting very different things and a spate of mix ups involving a set of people you might get if you chemically hybridised "Goodfellas" with "Bugsy Malone". One of these mock-ups is the character played by Vincent Spano, who does a wonderful job in portraying both the innocence and ruthlessness of Provolone's shrewd bookkeeper Anthony – he is in love with someone more connected to the Provolones than first appears. Meanwhile, the more we get of Angelo's bored and frustrated daughter Lisa (Marisa Tomei), the more we want the film to be about her tribulations of staring down a Mafioso dad and an arranged marriage.Landis doesn't capture the right tone. Kids might find the spectacle of Stallone standing in an office pointing a chicken drumstick at somebody having first thought it a gun to be amusing, but the adults are unmoved; meanwhile, nobody under the age of 25 will understand why the fact Lisa is reading "Lady Chatterley's Lover" is so important to who she is and where she wants to be when the films introduces her for the very first time. For younger viewers, the repetitiveness of the film's setting; tone and material might become tiresome, while for the adults there just isn't enough meat on the bone to get stuck into to begin with.Otherwise, the film is actually fairly boring all things considered. It is a long time since I have been genuinely bored with a film like I was with "Oscar". Stallone's character's quest to leave behind the criminal underworld - ditching, in the process, all use of gangster slang his bodyguards might use and resorting to intimidation to make a point - becomes hopelessly lost amidst a slew of supporting acts coming; going; leaving and returning for a variety of inane reasons and that real sense of mind-numbing claustrophobia as the mansion they'll all occupying seems to close in on us. It would be impossible to recommend "Oscar".

"Oscar" is a hilarious movie that keeps you laughing throughout. You even feel quite exhausted after it's all said and done since there's so much going on. The great thing about the movie is being surprised minute by minute. The basic story is about "Snaps" Provolone, a powerful Chicago gangster that is feared by many. However, Snaps is about to go straight because he promised his dying father on his deathbed that he would go legit. However, it's not going to be easy. In only 24 hours of trying to be straight, everything goes straight to hell, and everything that could go wrong does. And that's when all of the fun begins. This is a terrific comedy that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. Sylvester Stallone can really be a card and is hilarious when given the right opportunity. His facial expressions and outbursts are truly unforgettable.John Landis scored big with his spoof of high finance magnates "Trading Places" and revisits similar terrain in "Oscar," only this time the big money was made in the crime syndicate field. Landis shrewdly sets his satire in the Depression period to provide for the same kind of contrast between rich and poor that he showcased in "Trading Places", when Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche wagered to see what will happen when poor African American Eddie Murphy is allowed into their world to make business decisions. This is filled with hilarious dialogue and is delivered perfectly by everyone. Yes, even Stallone. And you felt so proud when Chazz was ahead of everyone else after not knowing a thing about a thing.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

This film is based on the 1958 French play "Oscar" by Claude Magnier and it's also a remake of French 1967 movie "Oscar" staring Louis De Funes. I haven't seen the French version and considering my dislike for French comedies (with few exceptions) I don't think I ever will. So there won't be any comparisons between the French movie and Hollywood version. The only thing you need to know is the action here is set in 30's America in world of Italian gangsters instead of 60's France and the world of French businessmen.The story here is completely ridiculous , but it's a FARCE people , it has to be that way . The story has to be slightly confusing and full of action and twists. Maybe that's the reason why the USA audience didn't liked it ? It's kind of weird considering it's a homage to 30's comedies that are still popular today. It feels a lot like a Cary Grant / Katherine Hepburn movie.Some jokes feel repetitive and the story gets predictable in some place , but it never hurts the movie too much The story is pretty much an excuse to put the characters in funny situations. The characters are well defined and likable. The movie is loaded with memorable dialogue and wordplay . "Oscar" feels like a mix of screwball comedy and «commedia dell'arte».Sylvester Stallone always had a great sense of humor even in his most serious movies (contrary to what people say). Here he is having fun spoofing his own image and shows a really good comic timing . He does an admirable job and actually fits his role. "Oscar" has also an all star supporting cast: Don Ameche ("Trading places") , Marisa Tomei ("My cousin Vinny") , Tim Curry ("Rocky horror picture show"), Kirk Douglas ("Spartacus") , Kurtwood Smith ("Robocop") Chazz Palmenteri ("Bronx tale") . Watch out for Arleen Sorkin (the voice of Harley Quinn in "Batman TAS") in small role of manicurist. Everyone is good here and fits is/hers role perfectly.John Landis directs "Oscar" in solid way. "Oscar" actually feels like you're watching a stage show and that's not a bad thing.Forget "Rhinestone" and "Stop or my mom will shoot". This is Stallone's best comedy (not counting his action comedies) and John Landis best movie in the 90's ( before he lost his touch completely). "Oscar" is not earth-shatteringly important movie or comedy , but it's pretty fun movie in universal way (you can watch it with all of your family and everyone should find something funny in it). I give it 5/10.