Paradise Alley

Customer Reviews:

Worth it for the opening alone.......2007-08-25

I'm buying this for the opening scene alone with Sly singing the Paradise Alley theme.

Not Baker's or Haas' Movie.......2006-12-22

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SYLVESTER STALLONE stars in a comedy about NY life in the 1940's. Three brothers, stooges, fail at multiple attempts to make it out of the slums of Hell's Kitchen. In trying to make the big bucks, they neglect the one thing that matters, Love. In realizing this, the little brother makes a decision that might jeopardize their big Blue Heaven.

I thought the movie was funny in every scene, but it wasn't so funny as a movie. If that makes sense. I thought this may have been due to poor direction, STALLONE'S debut. It would make a very good Theatre production. Cutting a few scenes out of the picture, would have made it a better movie (example: ice cream scene).

A few things about the movie stand out. Firstly, this is legendary singer/songwriter TOM WAITS' Hollywood debut. Any TOM WAITS fan will want to get this movie, just to watch those few glorious moments over and over again.

Secondly, SYLVESTER STALLONE sings the theme song. This is priceless. If you've watched his career blossom, and are able to observe the contradiction in his newly found intellectualism, then you will appreciate hearing him sing a theme song for a movie. I rank this action second to hearing WILLIAM SHATNER'S rendition of 'Rocketman'. Very nice.

Thirdly, the lines spoken by a thug mentioned in a previous review are truely classic.

So it's a great picture, however, the optimum enjoyment for this movie is to be experienced in parts, by previewing one scene, before that evening's alternate DVD is queued.

It's just okay.......2006-05-14

Well, well, my peepinheimers - this movie is a far cry from Sly at his best! I love Mr. Stallone and would recommend this to any fan because it is, in fact, his directorial debut. Also - singer Tom Waits made his acting debut AND actor Armand Assante had his first role of any significance (later, of course, he would work with Sly in the unfairly maligned "Judge Dredd"). Sly wrote the screenplay, too - based (and this is an often ignored fact) on his novel of the same name. That's right, the hardcover novel was published well in advance of the movie adaptation. Having read the novel several times (I still own my dog-eared hardcover first edition!), I can honestly say that the changes made for the movie were not beneficial. I wish that the screenplay had been truer to the novel - which had a greater emphasis on dark characterization instead of the overblown (and poorly staged) wrestling matches that dominate the latter portion of the movie. The book is more realistic, but I assume that Mr. Stallone was coerced by the commercial-minded movie producers to make the ending more traditionally "up-lifting."

Sly, it should be noted, also sings the opening credits song - and it should come as no suprise to those who saw him duetting with Dolly Parton in "Rhinestone" several years later, the man can actually sing. In some ways, I prefer Sly's singing voice to that of his successful hit-making brother, Frank; it's richer and more distinctive.

Ultimately, this movie is undone by a lack of focus. The story has many interesting threads, but too many of them are left unresolved by the end of the movie. Not that I expect all movies to finish up tidily with every little thing explained - a measure of ambiguity is welcomed. It's just that when it comes to an ambitious character piece like this, I would've rather had more exploration of the various relationships as opposed to a big rah-rah wrestling match.

Entertaining Mess.......2006-01-09

Sly Stallone's directorial debut is a self-indulgent mess ripe with overwrought dialogue and broad characterizations. The film does not start out swimmingly with Stallone croaking the title song over the opening credits. Maybe Sly's intention was to make baby bro Frank, who makes an appearance here, look like a good singer. Those quibbles aside, this is an eminently likable film. Stallone may have been a little over his head here but it'a a nice try. You're never bored with this effort. His Cosmo Carboni is an affable schemer. He's ably supported by Armande Assante as the brainy Carboni brother and Lee Canalito as the brawn. A good supporting cast is assembled here with Anne Archer, Kevin Conway, Frank McRae, wrestler Terry Funk and singer Tom Waits. I wouldn't exactly call this a misfire because it is enjoyable. Nor is it your typical vanity project. Let's just call it an admirable endeavor on Stallone's part.

Stallone returns to his birthplace with directorial debut.......2005-12-07

Singer Tom Waits a spectator during a hand-wrestling scene in a Stallone movie? You got to be kidding! But believe it or not, Mr Waits made his acting debut as pianist Mumbles in Stallone's directorial debut Paradise Alley! Weirdest of all, Stallone sang the movie theme song Too Far From Paradise (six years before he grooved with Dolly Parton in Rhinestone (1984)) in Paradise Alley and Waits recorded some songs that were based on this movie. Unfortunately, these rare recordings are not heard during the course of the movie and the CD is not available on amazon - very difficult to get hold of.

Critics at the time called Paradise Alley a "crazy collage". The film starts off with stunning scenes of 1946 Hell's Kitchen nightlife by master cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, who at the time was also responsible for New York, New York (1977), another period film set in 1945 New York. Now one is reminded how director Martin Scorsese also were derided by critics for trying to marry 1940s Big Band-era "fake movie set" Hollywood musicals with gritty 1970s urban realism in New York, New York. But Paradise Alley is not of the same artistic caliber as New York, New York. Stallone's Combo is unconvincing (unlike De Niro's sax musician in the latter movie), although debut actor Armand Assante delivers a serious, solid performance (he would re-unite with Stallone in Judge Dredd, 1995). Halfway through, the character drama deteriorates into a wrestling movie, complete with a ridiculous Rocky-esque final championship match! This movie is strongly recommended for nostalgic Stallone fans - this movie is written, directed, sung and starring Sylvester Stallone!

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