Crazy Joe (1974)

Peter Boyle's hyperactive performance anchors this Carlo Lizzani thriller about the short life of mafia hood "Crazy" Joe Gallo. Boyle is all energy ready to explode (and frequently does) as a mafia soldier who suffers from more than a little paranoia and a lot of low self-esteem. Easy to dismiss as an exploitation version of THE GODFATHER, the film is actually immensely entertaining and expertly directed by Lizzani. Full of oddball touches from Boyle's rescue of kids from a burning building to one of oddest uses of an iron lung that you're likely to find. The NYC locales help a lot as does the extremely strong supporting cast: Rip Torn; Eli Wallach; Charles Cioffi; Michael V. Gazzo. Hervé Villechaize plays Samson. Aldo Tonti did the very colorful cinematography and the music is by Giancarlo Chiaramello. Paula Prentiss, Henry Winkler and Fred Williamson are in it too.

Looking at it in retrospect I suppose this film turned out to be an okay movie which essentially involves a gangster known as "Crazy Joe" (Peter Boyle) who believes that his efforts working for the mob haven't been appreciated enough. So he decides to force the issue and create his own gang. The problem with his logic, however, is that although he was certainly a top-notch thug, he doesn't quite have the discipline or a good understanding of the intricacies involved in building a crime family. Anyway, I thought Peter Boyle did an adequate job but it was Eli Wallach (as "Don Vittorio") and Fred Williamson (as "Willy") who really stood out. I also enjoyed seeing Henry Winkler cast as one of Crazy Joe's thugs named "Mannie" and Paula Prentiss as Joey's wife "Anne". Even so, the pace of the movie sometimes seemed a bit slow and I occasionally felt that some of the movie had been left in the cutting room. Not a great film by any means but somewhat entertaining all the same.

"What do these Hollywood types know about gangsters?" (Crazy Joe, when he encounters a film crew on the street)Ironically, a good point. (Or was the irony intentional? I doubt it...) Hollywood types have generally proved to know very little about the mob (or almost anything else for that matter), or at least often present aspects of that culture in a misleading or somewhat romanticized manner. However, there isn't too much silliness or idolatry going on here, i.e. CJ's mobsters are to the most part portrayed accurately/realistically, in other words as the uncontrollable sociopaths that they are and always will be. Thankfully, this isn't a Sydney Lumet picture in which the viewer is required/asked to sympathize with criminals by taking an irrational, liberal, childishly anti-establishment attitude. (See "Find Me Guilty", a fantasy mobster court-room drama in which a "happy ending" constitutes a dozen mobster defendants being acquitted of crimes they did commit...) The radiant 70s look, a brisk plot development, and the generally good cast make up for some occasional flaws.Fonz as a gangster?? He is about a head shorter than all the (fe)male cast members - and that includes Harve Villachaize. Truly threatening-looking. Not to mention his perpetual "mild-mannered accountant's" facial expression, which he cannot get rid off even if a team of top plastic surgeons tried to help him in that fantastic feat. That was a major casting blunder. What's next... Kate Hudson as head of NASA? Casey Affleck as Superman? Another casting error, though far less dramatic than the Fonz fiasco, was picking Charles Cioffi to play a rising mob star. An actor's Italian name alone does not necessarily a suitable mafiosi make. He too lacks the aura of psychopathy that even the least violent mobster (which isn't saying much) has, lurking below the surface.Why do mobsters' wives and girfriends, i.e. harlots, nearly always get portrayed favourably in movies? It doesn't take a brilliant deductive mind or world-class detective skills to figure out that such women can't be morally much more impressive than the scum they they date. Admittedly, Paula Prentiss's character is underdeveloped, but whatever little we see of her seems to be far too flattering for that kind of woman.On one or two occasions the jumps from one scene to the next are too quick, making the flow of the movie somewhat shaky. It's as though the initial running time of CJ had been 30 minutes longer, and a commercially-driven butchering job had been implemented at the last minute in the editor's room.

Saw this movie many years ago. It was quite unique and well made. If you enjoyed the Godfather or enjoy true stories this one is worth watching. Peter Boyle did a great job! Especially good if you,like me, enjoy retro 70's almost forgotten films. Has such a stellar cast, it is a real surprise that it is not a cult classic. Enjoyed especially the brief character of the Fonz as a mobster guy. I would have to say if I had been a reviewer when I saw it in 1974 I would had to give it 3 stars. I also found it very easy to follow even if you don't know a lot about Joe Gallo or the story of his life and murder. Fred Williamson who did the cult classic Superfly is also in the cast and gave a great performance. Anyone who likes gangster movies should seek this out.