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2006
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FIND
ME GUILTY
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STARRING:VIN
DIESEL,RON SILVER,PETER DINKLAGE,LINUS ROACHE, ALEX ROCCO,JAMES
BIBERI, RICHARD PORTNOW,ANNABELLA SCIORRA
WRITTEN
BY SIDNEY LUMET,T.J. MANCINI & ROBERT J.MCCREA
PRODUCED
BY ROBERT DE BRINO,ROBERT GREENHUT,T.J. MANCINI & BOB YARI
DIRECTED
BY SIDNEY LUMET
GENRE:BIOGRAPHY/CRIME/DRAMA
RATED:AUSTRALIA:NA/UK:15/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:125 MIN
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Sidney
Lumet is a director who takes his actors to unexpected places, drawing
from them career defining performances as seen with Al Pacino in Serpico
and Dog
Day Afternoon, Peter Finch in Network
and Paul Newman in The
Verdict. And so it goes with Vin Diesel.
Find Me Guilty is the true story of the events surrounding
the longest running criminal trial in American history (21 months
to be precise). The trial saw the District Attorney of New York City
(Linus Roache) arresting every member of the New Jersey faction of
the Lucchesi crime family under conspiracy charges, brought on by
the newly established RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations)
Act. Among them is Jackie Di Norscio (Vin Diesel), the families Narcotics
lieutenant and resident joker, who is already serving a 30 year stint
in jail for a drug related incident. Refusing to rat out his friends
in exchange for a lighter sentence, Di Norscio goes to trial along
with the rest of the family. Sick of paying expensive attorney fees
for inadequate services, Di Norscio decides to defend himself to the
chagrin of his fellow indictees and their lawyers and the amazement
of the D.A., while continually testing the patience of the honourable
Judge Finestein (Ron Silver).
As is the case with many of Lumet's films, the biggest strength lies
within the performances of his actors. Vin Diesel - he of such action
movies like The Fast and the Furious and XXX
- gives a surprisingly good performance as the charming, at times
humiliating to watch gangster who considers himself a "gagster".
Diesel is surrounded by a solid supporting cast, with Ron Silver's
tough but fair judge, Peter Dinklage's criminal attorney, and Annabella
Sciorra - who gives a memorable minor performance as Di Norscio's
ex-wife - the pick of the litter.
The markedly realistic court setting (most of the court dialogue is
actual recorded testimony) coupled with Lumet's voyeuristic camera
shots gives a fly on the wall perspective of the American justice
system. It also represents the guilt, shame, flamboyance and loyalty
within the mafia lifestyle, as told through the never ending barrage
of witnesses who testified on behalf of the D.A., but also through
the un-orthodox court conduct of Di Norscio who despite being a drug
dealer, extortionist and murderer, manages to win over the jury and
also the viewer.
If this were not a true story, it would never be accepted as real.
Another fine addition to Lumet's acclaimed filmography and a great
performance by Diesel. |
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