The Brooklyn Banker

This movie moved as slow as a Jerry Lewis telethon, and the acting was compatible. Such a waste of talent for otherwise good actors.

The Brooklyn Banker exceeded our expectations, especially with the excellent stand out acting by Garity and Proval.

The director obviously has a good eye for detail as the camera work, lighting, and locations chosen, transported one into a somewhat gritty looking Brooklyn in the 1970's. Hats off, too, to the costume and set directors for being such perfectionists in keeping every detail true to that decade. The realistic casting of the extras and use of locations was also quite effective in bringing that era alive.

The movie was well paced and built up by the good acting and story line which rang true. Refreshingly, it did not overreach.

Quite good genre/indie film with a Scorsese type ending.

Set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the 1970's "The Brooklyn Banker" is about Santo Bastucci (Troy Garrity), a young banker with a rare gift, an eidetic memory, whose life is interrupted when local mob kingpin "Manny the Hand" ( David Proval) decides he wants Santo to work for him.

David Proval is masterful as Manny the Hand, and Troy Garity is brilliant in his portrayal of an average guy, content with his life, caught in the middle of a living nightmare.

One of the most powerful and compelling scenes in the entire movie takes place on a rooftop. The dialogue between Santo and Manny is bone chilling. Manny plays his cards, deliberately trying to manipulate Santo into working for him by telling Santo the true story of his relationship with Santos' father, betting that the truth will destroy Santos' relationship with his uncle, the local Priest, and convincing Santo that his destiny is with Manny's world. It is the scene that deftly defines the themes of the movie, and becomes the turning point in all their lives.

To some, this movie might seem like just another mob flick, but it isn't. It is a story with much richer themes, about self discovery, about choices we must make when faced with adversity, about loyalty, fighting for that in which we believe, and knowing who to lean on in times of trouble. The beauty of this story is in the dialogue, richly woven with clues about the motivations of the protagonists, deliberately planned by the writer, Michael Ricigliano. In this sense, the movie is counter Godfather; the protagonist, Santo, chooses to fight for the values in which he believes and distance himself from Manny's world, and many of the powerful blows are delivered with words, not violence, although there is plenty of the latter in the movie as well. It is a story to which everyone can relate, since, at some point in our lives, we are all faced with difficult choices.

Whether or not you are a fan of mob movies, or you are a fan of movies where the dialogue is as, if not more important than the action, then "The Brooklyn Banker" won't disappoint.

They spent all their money on the cast, who basically reprise previous roles but their characters are all surface mannerisms. Every frame is a,lame homage/copy of better mafia films but it looks like a student production... the videography is amateurish and the direction, self-consciously awkward. These high ratings have got to be from the crew and their families, real cinephiles wouldn't award an amateurish movie with high ratings.

I had the pleasure going to the movie premier in NY. I was amazed on how well written the story line was done. Many talented actors & actress in the movie. I enjoy the movie very much and it had real life event in it like seeing the feast. Also shows how the family sticks together but if you cross the wrong person...watch out. All the best to all to everyone who had a part in making this movie, Michael, Frederico, are amazing men with a bright future ahead of them. For everyone else congrats on making a movie that will be in all movie theaters soon across the country all in time. I would recommend anyone to see it.