Fingers
A James Toback Film
Jimmy Fingers (Harvey Keitel) lives in two worlds. In one, he's a supremely talented pianist with Carnegie Hall aspirations. In the other, he's a brutal collector who violently squeezes anyone who reneges on debts owed his mobbish loan-shark father. Jimmy is a house divided. His dual life will come crashing in on him.
As in Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Keitel inhabits a seamy underbelly of existence in Fingers. James Toback (Bugsy) writes and directs, infusing this cult classic with vivid New York locations and volatile psychosexual dislocation. This Entertainment Weekly choice as One of the 25 Greatest Mob Movies Ever features Jim Brown, Danny Aiello and future The Sopranos co-stars Dominic Chianese and Anthony Sirico. Fingers has talent and impact in its grasp.
Member Reviews
A nightmare lasting 90 mins, when a man's morality is at stake - Porkchop
FINGERS (1977) is bit a traditional horror movie, as in the genre,
but in the reaction that is imparted to the audience, as the action
unfolds over 90 minutes, with Keitel trying to pull himself out of
his station in life, as a collector of illegal debts.
The lesson of this movie, is the danger of embracing the darkness,
losing one's humanity, and vulnerability when violent, horrible deeds
are done, that take the yin and the yang out of balance. We see
Keitel's character weep, as he attends an after hours party.
Here, Keitel reprises his role, of someone who puts on his "diving
suit" and goes into the depths of estrangement, cruelty, dispair
violence, as a resulr of employing extreme "business tactics"
expected to be employed in certain mob circles to avoid being
ridiculed, exploited, or run out of business, involving collection
debts of gambling, business loans, protection fees, etc
The merit of this picture, is the simplicity of the dialog, and often
the superb cinematographic quality of the wide-screen picture,
bursting with color, sharpness, vividness, showing an extremely
"live" feeling to the action, even 30 years later, amazingly.
We see Keitel tell an officer "You shouldn't be wasting your
time with this law enforcement nonsense!"
The sterotypical image of mobsters, justifiable or not, of people who
use gutter language is amply demonstrated in this picture.
This tough language is used between people, friends or foe, and will
shock people, from its graphic nature. Keitel refusing to take out
a debtor who is not cooperating, is told by his father " I should
have strangled you in your crib!"
Overall, this picture is professional, extraordinarily lush, colorful
film with sharp images great for theatres, to scare the audience, in
a nightmare lasting 90 mins, when a man's morality is at stake, the
soul is up for grabs.Classic Keitel - Patrick_Conejo
Gritty gut-punch of a movie bristling with 70s NYC energy. Keitel's ultra-intense performance is on a par with his later role in BAD LIEUTENANT, which shares the same combination of hyper-real location shooting and searing desperation. Supporting cast features early performances by many well-known actors. Be sure to check out Toback's intimidatingly articulate and anecdote-filled commentary track.Odd Little Film - Nik-
It's strange, it's arty, there's swearing and death, but not a lot of action. Keitel plays Jimmy Fingers, a piano player, a lover, a debt collector for his father, and a timid tough guy who always carries his tape deck everywhere.
The movie is slow, unusual, puzzling, and somewhat creepy. It's more about character than anything else. We watch Jimmy struggle with his parents, his career, his lovelife, his prostate -- and it all is quirky and ugly in that New York and a naked Harvey Keitel way.
This is a good movie to watch by yourself on a Sunday afternoon when it's raining outside and you're feeling existential angst.
Member Reviews
Read All...
A nightmare lasting 90 mins, when a man's morality is at stake - Porkchop
FINGERS (1977) is bit a traditional horror movie, as in the genre,
but in the reaction that is imparted to the audience, as the action
unfolds over 90 minutes, with Keitel trying to pull himself out of
his station in life, as a collector of illegal ...Classic Keitel - Patrick_Conejo
Gritty gut-punch of a movie bristling with 70s NYC energy. Keitel's ultra-intense performance is on a par with his later role in BAD LIEUTENANT, which shares the same combination of hyper-real location shooting and searing desperation. Supporting cast features ...Odd Little Film - Nik-
It's strange, it's arty, there's swearing and death, but not a lot of action. Keitel plays Jimmy Fingers, a piano player, a lover, a debt collector for his father, and a timid tough guy who always carries his tape deck everywhere.
The movie is slow, ...