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AngieA video reviewBy Rosario A. IaconisBensonhurst is fast becoming thestuff <strong>of</strong> legends. It is Brooklyn'sBrooklyn and as much a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>America</strong>nfolklore as the O.K Corral, Hollywoodand Tara. But for all the wrongreasons. Whereas other cinematic localesevoke images <strong>of</strong> dashing moviestars. rugged cowboys and swashbucklingConfederates. Bensonhurst calls tomind brainless hulks, tasteless tarts andgnome-like. superstitious elders. Bensonhurstis where directors, producers,screenwriters and actors have a rendevouzwith bigotry. Now that blacks,Asians, gays and Hispanics are <strong>of</strong>f-limits,it feels sooo good to find a safestereotype. And in this regard, the Bensonhurstneighborhood in Angie deliversthe goods.Devotees <strong>of</strong> Italians-as-urban-neanderthalswill revel in the outrageouslysurreal accents adopted by the masterthespians in the film. Though not aspuerile as Cher's Brook.lynese in Moonstruck,the crude English spoken byAngie's main (Italian) characters ranksright up there in the annals <strong>of</strong> linguisticbackwardness: "Howz ya sistah?" "Mymutha wuz a free spearitt." '1 haftaleave for duh show." Why must everyfilm featuring Italo-<strong>America</strong>ns soundlike an outtake from Lionel Stander'sREVIEWsoliloquies on Hart to Hart?Angie makes full use <strong>of</strong> this stereotype.The title character's boyfriendVinnie, a woefully wigged James Gandolfini,is depicted as an overweight insensitiveplumber with delusions <strong>of</strong> provolone.Aida Turturro plays Angie • s bestfriend as a cross between ErnestBorgnine's Marty and an Italo-<strong>America</strong>nMiss Piggy. Her husband, another scion<strong>of</strong> Italy, is shown to be a misogynisticwife-beater. By conrrast, Angie's Irishlover is a witty, urbane barrister with aneye for artistic masterworks and femalepulchritude. Only Geena Davis as Angieand Philip Bosco as her father turn increditable and credible performances. InFor once, an Italian<strong>America</strong>n heroine followsher own dictates and notthose <strong>of</strong> a twistedpatriarch.fact, they very nearly circumvent thedirector's prejudices.Geena Davis brings a refreshing air toher poruayal <strong>of</strong> the spunky Angie. Sheimbues the character witlt an intelligencenot originally intended by Lhefilmmakers. (Nor, I suspect, by the author<strong>of</strong> "Angie,/ Says," the book upon whichthe movie was based.) Davis takes AngieGeena Davisinto the Nineties and expertly conveysboth the rage and helplessness <strong>of</strong> the titlecharacter. Geena is a st:riking womanwhose humor and daring make an otherwisepredictable melodr.una watchable.For once, an Italian-<strong>America</strong>n heroinefollows her own dictates and not those <strong>of</strong>a twisted patriarch. In so doing, shediscovers a greater truth amid the tragicrealities <strong>of</strong> her life. The Shakespeareanactor Philip Bosco also deserves manykudos for his understated yet powerfulpresence in the film. Bosco providesjust the right mix <strong>of</strong> agony, fury andlove.And Angie affords ltalo-<strong>America</strong>nsa ray <strong>of</strong> hope that future film projectswill depictlheir fellows in a more benignand realistic UghL............MaintenanceArcher Elevator Co., Inc.522 West 37th StreetNew York, New York 10018(212) 695-2712RepairWe've grown slowly over the last 25 years to become one <strong>of</strong> the largest independentelevator companies in the New York area.BUT WE HAVEN'T LOST THE PERSONAL TOUCH!Call me and let's talk. I'll probably be in.xxn.l994 11Ed Bonardi, PresidentThe <strong>Italic</strong> Way;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;