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From Amazon.co.uk
Set among the Italian-American community of Manhattan and adapted by Vincent Patrick from his own novel, 1984's The Pope of Greenwich Village just about gets by on its charm. It stars Mickey Rourke as Charlie, a small-time grafter who is on the point of making his big move and breakaway. Unfortunately, the pull of family ties means that he's hampered by his cousin Paulie (Eric Roberts), an ambitious and excitable idiot who manages to cock up absolutely everything he turns his hand to, bringing down Charlie with him every time. After he gets the pair of them sacked from a restaurant, Paulie helps set up a safecracking deal with older hand Kenneth MacMillan. Trouble is, they’re robbing the local mafia boss.
Rourke and Roberts' relationship is modelled closely on that of Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro in Scorcese's Mean Streets, only without quite the same harrowing consequences. This being the 1980s there's much De Niro-esque methodology, which generally consists of repeating lines at least twice ("Fix your tie! Fix your tie!"). The element of improv sees the film veer off course occasionally, while Darryl Hannah is her usual oddly semi-detached self in the role of Rourke's girlfriend. However, it's Roberts' performance as the exasperating and energetic Paulie which carries the film, with solid support from numerous Goodfellas and Sopranos regulars.
On the DVD: The Pope of Greenwich Village arrives on disc in a decent enough but hardly pristine print. The sole extra is the original trailer, which means the only real benefit of acquiring this on DVD is storage convenience. --David Stubbs
Product Description
DVD Special Features
Original theatrical trailer
Interactive menu screens and chapter selections.
Original theatrical trailer
Interactive menu screens and chapter selections.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By "deizonline"
Format:DVD
You've read the review above so I won't rehash the plot. Essentially a buddy movie, I originally wanted to see this after accidentally coming across the book in a job lot of old paperbacks. TPOGV is brilliantly acted by Rourke and Roberts, Rourke as the serial schemer looking for his big break and Roberts as the serial loser who relies on his friend to pick up the pieces when it all goes to crap. And it does...
Notable for a sight of Daryl Hannah in her 80's aerobics gear (when she was in her prime) and the bone-crunching moment when Roberts realizes that messing with the Mafia means his promising career as a darts player has been prematurely curtailed. Also a great view of the World Trade Center towers circa 1984 as they drive home from the racetrack. Definitely worth a watch, although my advice is to read the book first.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a really enjoyable little flick that has been passed over for some reason. Anyone who enjoys the urban milieu of NYC and its attendant ethnic cultures will find much to enjoy in Pope. Its also very much an 80s flick, with great performances from its two leads, who were both at their peak during this decade. Neither of these actors have really sustained the kind of work they are capable of, and show off to great effect in Pope, which is sad, because Rourke and Roberts certainly have talent in spades. Roberts in particular gives everything he's got as Paulie, the disaster prone cousin. Rourke, always something of a matinee idol, is perhaps overly concerned with his appearance here, but at least his vanity is very much in keeping with the character's egotistical machismo. Apart from the acting, there is much else to enjoy. The plot is never dull, with plenty of genuinely tense moments, particularly during the heist. There are several memorable supporting performances, particularly from Geraldine Chaplin, who damn near steals the show as the crooked cop's mother. Finally, there's the music, Frank Sinatra among others adding to the authentic Little Italy atmosphere. Perhaps for more than any other reason, Pope works because you really give a shit about the characters and for that, all credit should go to the writer and of course, Rourke and Roberts. A truly enjoyable experience and something of a minor classic.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A pre-surgery Mickey Rourke plays aspiring New York `somebody', Charlie, and Eric Roberts plays his effeminate schemer of a cousin, Paulie. The film opens with one of Paulie's schemes backfiring, and the pair getting fired from the restaurant where Charlie is the maitre`d and Paulie a waiter. With debts outstanding, work scarce, and in Charlie's case alimony to pay; the two set about a safe-cracking venture based on another of Paulie's tips, with the aid of a crack but ageing locksmith played by Kenneth McMillan. Of course, everything goes horribly wrong, and when Charlie discovers that notorious local Mafiosa `Bedbug Eddie' is the rightful owner of the stolen money, the pair have a whole lot more to worry about.
With some hammy acting from Roberts, and the usual laconic Brando-esque performance from Rourke, this is over the top but good fun. It's also good to see a film about gangsters and mob 'justice' that doesn't rely on guns; quaint, but all the better for it.
With some hammy acting from Roberts, and the usual laconic Brando-esque performance from Rourke, this is over the top but good fun. It's also good to see a film about gangsters and mob 'justice' that doesn't rely on guns; quaint, but all the better for it.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too kool for skool
This film is an absolute gem. Mickey Rourke at his coolist, a hilarious and touching portrait of friendship and the lengths that you sometimes have to go to to bail out the people... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Goodclothesfan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Aspect Ratio
Just a quick review about the aspect ratio of The Pope of Greenwich Village. This is presented in 1.85:1 Letterbox 4x3. Ratios on Amazon are neither fully detailed. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by tonyg
3.0 out of 5 stars
eventually, a fun movie
Nothing to add to the plot description by Amazon, this movie definitely does not qualify for an Oscar nomination, however it manages to provide some good fun. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by F. Panin
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