|
Frank Adonis
Frank Testaverde Scioscia (October 27, 1935 – December 26, 2018) was an American actor. He was perhaps best known for playing the mobster Anthony Stabile in the 1990 film '' Goodfellas''. Life and career Adonis was born in Brooklyn, New York. His first film role was in 1971 in '' The French Connection'', where he played the uncredited role of a bidder at a car auction in New York. During the 1970s Adonis appeared in films such as '' Shaft's Big Score!'', '' Cops and Robbers'', ''Lucky Luciano'', '' Crazy Joe'', '' The Gambler'' and '' The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight''. In 1978, he co-starred in the film '' Eyes of Laura Mars'', in which he played the role of Detective Sal Volpe. In 1980 Adonis co-starred in the film ''Raging Bull'', where he played the role of Patsy. He appeared in further films including '' Goodfellas'', '' Spike of Bensonhurst'', '' Wolfen'', ''King of New York'', '' Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'', ''Find Me Guilty'', '' The Trouble with Cali'', ''Tru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in New York City. Its newspaper is printed at 37 sites across the United States and at five additional sites internationally. The paper's dynamic design influenced the style of local, regional, and national newspapers worldwide through its use of concise reports, colorized images, informational graphics, and inclusion of popular culture stories, among other distinct features. As of 2023, ''USA Today'' has the fifth largest print circulation in the United States, with 132,640 print subscribers. It has two million digital subscribers, the fourth-largest online circulation of any U.S. newspaper. ''USA Today'' is distributed in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and an international edition is distributed in Asia, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lucky Luciano (film)
''Lucky Luciano'' is a 1973 biographical crime film about the Sicilian-American gangster Charles “Lucky” Luciano. It is directed by Francesco Rosi, and written by Rosi, Tonino Guerra, Lino Iannuzzi, and Jerome Chodorov. It stars Gian Maria Volonté as the title character, with Rod Steiger, Vincent Gardenia, Charles Cioffi, and Edmond O'Brien. Charles Siragusa, one of the real-life federal narcotics agents who pursued Luciano, plays himself in the film and also served as technical consultant. The film is an Italian and French co-production, filmed on-location in Italy and New York City. Plot Born in Sicily as Salvatore Lucania, Charles “Lucky” Luciano rises to become “the boss of all bosses” of the American Mafia in the 1930s by eliminating his rivals for power. When eventually imprisoned, Luciano eventually secures his release by offering his services to military intelligence during World War II, receiving a commutation from New York Governor Thomas E. Dewe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
True Romance
''True Romance'' is a 1993 American romantic crime film directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino. It features an ensemble cast led by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, with Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Walken in supporting roles. Slater and Arquette portray newlyweds who head to California with a stolen suitcase of drugs, with the Mafia in close pursuit and their future very uncertain. ''True Romance'' began life as an early script by Tarantino; he sold the screenplay in order to finance his debut feature film, '' Reservoir Dogs'' (1992). It is regarded by proponents as a cross-section of writer Tarantino and director Scott's respective trademarks, including a Southern California setting, pop cultural references, and stylized violence punctuated by slow motion. Though initially a box-office failure, the film's positive reviews, with critics praising the dialogue, characters, and offbeat style, helped it earn a cult fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Trouble With Cali
''The Trouble with Cali'' is an American drama film directed by Paul Sorvino and written by his daughter Amanda Sorvino. It stars Laurence Leboeuf, Glynnis O'Connor, Raviv Ullman and RZA. The film will not be released in theaters as a distribution deal was not able to be successfully negotiated spurring contention with Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, residents as $500,000 in tax payer funds was used to finance the film. Subsequently, the Scranton Cultural Center hosted a free premiere of the film on July 9, 2015, with additional showings on July 10, 2015 and July 11, 2015. Plot Cast * Laurence Leboeuf as Cali Bluejones * Paul Sorvino as Ivan Bluejones * Glynnis O'Connor as Avie Bluejones * Chris Meyer as Vail Bosenthall * Joanne Baron as Zelda Hirschorn * Frank Adonis as Uncle Vito * Annie Golden as Mrs. Katie Saperstein * Mira Sorvino as The Ballet Master * Raviv Ullman as Lois * Peyton List as Young Cali Bluejones * RZA as Himself * Bill Sorvino as Jimmy Lamberchin * Micha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Find Me Guilty
''Find Me Guilty'' is a 2006 American courtroom comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Sidney Lumet. The film is based on the true story of the longest Mafia trial in American history. Much of the courtroom testimony was taken from the original court transcripts. Vin Diesel stars as Jackie DiNorscio, a New Jersey mobster who is on trial with 19 of his colleagues for racketeering. A wrench is thrown into the system when DiNorscio fires his lawyer and decides to represent himself. The film also stars Peter Dinklage, Linus Roache, Alex Rocco, and Ron Silver. Plot In the mid 1980s, Mafia soldier Jackie DiNorscio ( Vin Diesel) and 19 of his peers have been waiting a year for their federal racketeering trial to begin. While out on bail, Jackie is shot by his drug addict cousin Tony Compagna (Raúl Esparza). Afraid of being killed by the extended mob family run by Nick Calabrese ( Alex Rocco), Tony agrees to be a government witness for district attorney Sean Kierney (Linus Ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pet Detective
''Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' is a 1994 American comedy film starring Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura, an animal detective who is tasked with finding the abducted dolphin mascot of the Miami Dolphins football team. The film was directed by Tom Shadyac, who wrote the screenplay with Jack Bernstein and Carrey. The film co-stars Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Sean Young, and then–Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and features a cameo appearance from death metal band Cannibal Corpse. Morgan Creek Productions produced the film on a budget of , and Warner Bros. released the film in February 1994. It grossed $72.2 million in the United States and Canada and $35 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $107.2 million. It received generally unfavorable reviews from critics. Carrey's performance led to the film having a cult following among male adolescents. In addition to launching Carrey's film career, it started a franchise, spawning the sequel film '' Ace Ventura: When Natur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
King Of New York
''King of New York'' is a 1990 neo-noir crime film directed by Abel Ferrara and written by Nicholas St. John. It stars Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo and Wesley Snipes, with supporting roles played by Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi, Paul Calderón, Janet Julian and Theresa Randle. Walken portrays Frank White, a New York City drug kingpin rebuilding his criminal empire after his release from prison, while also attempting to go legitimate. The film was released by Carolco Pictures (through New Line Cinema) on September 28, 1990. It received mixed reviews from critics, with several criticizing the film's violence and dark tone. Retrospective reviews have been much more positive, and the film has been described as one of Ferrara's best. Plot Frank White, a drug lord, strives to control New York City's criminal underground. Shortly after his release from Sing Sing Penitentiary, White and his crew, led by his trigger-happy right-hand man J ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wolfen (film)
''Wolfen'' is a 1981 American crime horror film directed by Michael Wadleigh in his only directional feature film, based on Whitley Strieber's 1978 novel '' The Wolfen''. It stars Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Gregory Hines and Edward James Olmos. The film follows a city cop who has been assigned to uncover what is behind a series of vicious murders. Originally, it is believed the murders are animal attacks until the cop discovers an indigenous legend about wolf spirits. Plot Former NYPD Captain Dewey Wilson is brought back to the force and assigned to solve a bizarre string of violent murders after high-profile magnate Christopher Van der Veer, his wife, and his bodyguard are slain in Battery Park. Executive Security, the private firm employed by Van der Veer, blames the murders on a group of left-wing anarchists, but knowing that the victim's bodyguard was a 300-pound Haitian with voodoo ties leads Wilson to doubt this theory because the bodyguard was torn apart with ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spike Of Bensonhurst
''Spike of Bensonhurst'' is a 1988 American comedy drama mafia film written and directed by Paul Morrissey and starring Sasha Mitchell. The film also features Ernest Borgnine, Maria Pitillo, and Talisa Soto. It was released in the United States on November 11, 1988 after it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. In the United Kingdom and other countries, the film was released with the title ''Mafia Kid''. Plot Spike Fumo is a young Italian-American man who lives in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and aspires to be a boxer. He hopes to impress the local mob boss, Baldo Cacetti, so that he will become his sponsor. However, Cacetti knows Spike only competes in fixed matches, so he turns down the offer. Spike reminds Cacetti that his father went to prison for working for him, so Cacetti gives Spike a job collecting money for his numbers racket. Spike meets the young woman Angel when she shows up to one of his boxing matches with her boyfriend, Justin. Angel also happens to b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raging Bull
''Raging Bull'' is a 1980 American biographical sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Theresa Saldana, Frank Vincent and Nicholas Colasanto (in his final film role). The film is an adaptation of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta's 1970 memoir '' Raging Bull: My Story''. It follows the career of LaMotta (played by De Niro), his rise and fall in professional boxing, and his turbulent personal life beset by rage and jealousy. Scorsese was initially reluctant to develop the project, although he eventually came to relate with LaMotta's story. Paul Schrader rewrote Mardik Martin's first screenplay, and Scorsese and De Niro together made uncredited contributions thereafter. Pesci was a relatively unknown actor prior to the film, as was Moriarty, whom Pesci suggested for her role. During principal photography, each of the boxing scenes was choreographed for a specific visual style, and De Niro gained a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eyes Of Laura Mars
''Eyes of Laura Mars'' is a 1978 American neo-noir supernatural horror thriller film directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Faye Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif, René Auberjonois, and Raul Julia. It follows a New York City fashion photographer (Dunaway) who suddenly develops the clairvoyant ability to witness disturbing serial murders from the point of view of the killer. The screenplay was adapted (in collaboration with David Zelag Goodman) from a spec script titled ''Eyes'', written by John Carpenter; it was Carpenter's first major studio film. H. B. Gilmour later wrote a novelization. Producer Jon Peters, who was dating Barbra Streisand at the time, bought the screenplay as a starring vehicle for her, but Streisand eventually decided not to take the role because of "the kinky nature of the story", as Peters later explained. As a result, the role went to Dunaway, who had just won an Oscar for her performance in '' Network'' (1976). Streisand nevertheless felt t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly Wide-format printer, large-format print magazine with a revamped website. As of 2020, the day-to-day operations of the company are handled by Penske Media Corporation through a joint venture with Eldridge Industries. The magazine also sponsors and hosts major industry events. History Foundation and early years ''The Hollywood Reporter'' was founded in 1930 by William R. Wilkerson, William R. "Billy" Wilkerson (1890–1962) as Hollywood's first daily entertainment trade newspaper. The first edition appeared on September 3, 1930, and featured Wilkerson's front-page "Tradeviews" column, which became influential. The newspaper appeared Monday-to-Saturday for the first 10 years, except for a brief period, t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |