The Palermo Connection (1990)

Great film. Okay, I do have to admit it has been almost twenty years since I saw the film, but it has always stayed with me and I've actually referenced it from time to time when discussing the worlds drug issues. Although not a film you'd expect to see James Belushi in, I thought it was well acted and well written and Belushi fans will appreciate the fact that there is more to Belushi than just comedy. It gave an interesting take in "the war on drugs". As the audience identifies with the main character, thinking as he that the best way to fight drugs is the classic; don't legalize, get rehab centers for drug abusers etc..., the movie educates the main character and you as to why this may not be the best solution and who is really profiting. It is a smart movie, but you certainly do not need to be a genius to follow it, as I was only 17 when I watched it and followed it just fine. So maybe they don't blow something up every five minutes, but there is lots of intrigue and conspiracy to capture and retain the attention of your average movie-goer. Give this movie a chance! I think many will be entertained as well as educated! Has anyone else noticed that this movie has seemed to disappear, at least in the US? Even IMDb does not list a US release date. Perhaps this movie is too close to the truth. If anyone finds an English version out there please share!

This was a surprise film for me, a surprise in seeing Jim Belushi do this film, that is. He was just coming out of the cloud of his brother and I think he tried to get into serious (versus comedic) cinema. This might have been the wrong vehicle as a step-out serious film. Unfortunately, this film, for a good lot of American audiences who generally need their cinema spoon-fed, is lackluster. But, as one poster mentioned the film is much like a travelogue of Palermo, the only thing missing is the smell, scent & the tactility that only actual placement can give. But the vivacity, spirit, color, timbre and mystery of the place is certainly provocatively portrayed in this film. I did not like the on-screen marriage of Mimi Rogers with Mr Belushi, but I felt he did quite well with the script as he could best interpret it, the little professional acting he had when this film was produced. The scene where he follows a stunning woman (Caroline Rossi?) continues, some years after I watched this film, to play itself back. The ending surprised me for a quick moment but then, again, what other ending could there be. We have a drug problem in the USA, as well as other countries, because there is an ample well of providers, including those who claim allegiance to its ills & dangers, in addition to a hungering population seeking any avenue of escape other than self-examination and the long process of self-cleansing. You can't expect a hungering populace to stop taking drugs that when you ask them to take a pill for what ever ills you. This film basically says the powers-that-be will not allow the drug to stop and will kill whomever tries to stop. If you're expecting what is now considered a typical drug/conspiracy movie you will be disappointed. You will have to do a wee bit of thinking, but not enough to tire yourself if you're not a natural thinker. If you're looking for a good movie of intrigue & mystery set in the intriguing & mysterious major city of Sicily then you could be pleasantly surprised. It is not your normal fare, for this type of film, but your IQ has to be a bit more than that of a gnat.

The Director Francesco Rosi have sign this extraordinary documentary-reporting on the Italian Mob and his relation towards the U.S.A and the Palermo beauty. Rosi is a very good artist, every of his work is extremely real and passionate, he narrate the story and the origin of `his' Palermo with such ability and the that he totally rape you, also if the story is inspired by a book how in this case. Carmine Bonavia is a candidate for a Major of New York with clear Sicilian origin that for grow up in the soundings declared he favorable on the drugs legalization. During his trip wedding through the Palermo city he is beginning to think that maybe this operation can truly `make a difference' for the people, but `they' aren't agree on this question...'Dimenticare Palermo is very interesting for many reasons: 1)the actuality of the arguments treated;2)for knows better the marvels of this country;3)for the intense and dynamic play of James Belushi in the leading character, maybe on the top of his career and all of the rest cast many of them Italian and all very good. The story cleared the relation between Mob and Politic and maybe the line that divided Goods and Evils is so thin that it's almost inexistent, where a man that would truly `make the different' can't do nothing cause the system is too great, dirty and corrupted for him. James Belushi is great in the powerful and energy role of Carmine Bonavia and during the developed of the story is truly touching his glance to a man blocked and set impotent but not still defeated. My rate is 8.

I just wanted to chime in against all of the opponents of this cinematic mastepiece. Superbly acted and fast paced, i saw this film under the keen direction of my father, Dennis K, and god bless him, he was right: THIS IS THE GREATEST FILM EVER MADE.