Mickey Blue Eyes written by Robert Kuhn - Seven out of 10

Mickey Blue Eyes written by Robert Kuhn

Seven out of 10

This film is a mixed bag.

Mostly, it is forgettable and given that it was released in 1999, 20 years ago, it has neither the appeal of a new feature, nor the charm of on old, black and white work that you might watch as vintage.

Therefore, what is left would be the pleasure of watching Hugh Grant, Jeanne Tripplehorn and James Caan, together with a few other formidable artists – James Fox especially.

Hugh Grant is Michael Felgate, an art – house auctioneer, whose British accent and manners can be endearing and amusing, or repellent, if we are talking about the Mafia types that he encounters in the film.

He is in love with Gina Vitale aka Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Alas, she is not from the Capulet family, death enemy for the Capulet Felgate, but she is just as deadly to be pursued.

Even if she is innocent, actually wants to distance herself from her father and have nothing to do with his activity.

For this is Frank Vitale portrayed by the fabulous James Caan.

If you look on the internet, in particular YouTube, you find that this is one of the most outstanding figures in cinema.

He is not only a glorious actor, but he is the one who makes the atmosphere on the set inflammatory.

Robert Duvall, Marlon Brando and others talk with admiration, respect and maybe a dose of envy about Caan.

Robert Duvall mentions the extraordinary experience on the set of the Godfather and other occasions, when Brando would not learn his lines and therefore they were posted everywhere, on the ceiling, walls, even the outfits of his fellow actors.

James Caan we learn was outstanding and his humor was the best ever…Duvall, who has worked over decades with so many artists, maintains that the two funniest were Caan and Bill Murray.

When James Caan would make a joke, it would take the legendary Marlon Brando a few seconds to understand it.

In Mickey Blue Eyes, he does not have much material to work with, but even the way he looks at Michael aka Hugh Grant is a reward.

The auctioneer finds that loving the daughter of a Mafioso is extremely dangerous and impossible to deal with at times.

On the one hand, she has distanced herself from the Organization, but on the other, Goodfellas make an entrance.

In one of the few amusing passages, Vito Graziosi, godfather to one family of 'made men', wants the terrible painting of his son to be sold and not at just any price, but with a tag of $ 50,000.

Michael is horrified at the prospect, for he knows the work is so appalling that “people would pay that much to stay away from it, not to own it”, but he is aware of the consequences of refusing the favor.

Accepting it is also risky.

For his lover must not know that he deals with the very people she wants to eliminate from her life.

Things come to a nadir when the painter is accidentally killed and the mafia wants to find and kill the assassin.

When the FBI enters the stage, we might have had a complex, interesting action comedy movie.

Only we do not have it.

There are some pleasant scenes, because Hugh Grant and James Caan are such talented performers.

Nevertheless, the effort of looking for this on Netflix or another film site is not worth it, for there are other motion pictures, with these phenomenal actors among others that are much better.

The Godfather I and II for instance.

PS: Michael is amusing when he makes a note to watch these two classics, Goodfellas and Casino, to learn about the family that he wants to marry into.