Find Me Guilty
Sometimes the best defense... is a wiseguy.
Find Me Guilty is based on the true story of Giacomo "Jackie Dee" DiNorscio (Vin Diesel). After years of federal investigation, 20 members of the New Jersey Lucchese crime family are brought to court on 76 charges of various crimes. Already in the midst of serving a 30-year sentence, Jackie is offered an opportunity to shorten his time by testifying against many of his closest friends. But Jackie refuses to betray his "family," and goes so far as to defend himself in what will ultimately become the longest criminal trial of its time.
Member Reviews
Don't Waste Your Time - muso
Sidney Lumet, writing and directing a story taken from the real life of the New York streets and the courts. But this isn't Serpico or Prince of the City. This is a waste of two hours of your life.
The film tells the story of a massive two year long consipracy trial brought by the New York D.A.'s office in an attempt to bring down a Mafia crime family. Vin Diesel plays Johnny D., a somewhat minor figure in the family who defends himself. Linus Roache plays the D.A. and he hits the same sanctimonious one-note he plays constantly in Law & Order.
Johnny D. tells the jury - "I'm not a gangster, I'm a gagster." But hi isa gangster, and so are all his buddies facing trial as well.
And therein is the problem with the film. There is no one to root for and no larger story to tell. We don't like the D.A. and FBI agents but why are we rooting for the Mafia? The film doesn't raise any tough questions about the nature of large-scale conspiracy trails, it just gives us long excerpts from the trial featuring Johhny D. bumbling around.
This is a (long) film with nothing at the centre, and not much around the edges to keep the viewer interested. Here's a good idea- rent Serpico and watch it again.Surprise Gem of a Movie - CadyMae
We didn't know what to expect when we rented this movie. It turned out to be a great flick. Vin Diesel's performance exceeded any expectations we had, and he really made the character believable. The courtroom scenes were excellent, witty and vibrant, made all the more interesting as they drew heavily upon recorded testimony.
The only criticism is the soundtrack. The ambient noises were so loud in some scenes that no amount of fiddling with the volume would allow you to clearly hear the dialogue. Other than that, it was a fantastic story-driven movie.Sidney Lumet's Courtroom Drama Has A Few Surprises - bwod
Now 84 years of age, famed director and screenwriter Sidney Lumet(Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon) takes on a challenging real-life story about a mob trial that happened in New Jersey back in 1987. Starring Vin Diesel, as Jackie D., a mobster drug-dealer, the case against 20 big Mafioso turns into a ridiculous circus when the drug dealer decides to repesent himself in court.
But gradually, the jury is won over by this true-to-life Soprano. If this wasn't a true story, it really would be unbelievable, but much of the dialogue comes directly from the court transcripts. And Vin Diesel gives an excellent performance, as the legal-eagle wise-guy. Presented more as a play, the dialogue carries the movie, and the action is thrown in only to embellish the story. It's well worth a look, considering the brillant director and Diesel's original performance. I give it two thumbs up.
Member Reviews
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Don't Waste Your Time - muso
Sidney Lumet, writing and directing a story taken from the real life of the New York streets and the courts. But this isn't Serpico or Prince of the City. This is a waste of two hours of your life.
The film tells the story of a massive two year long ...Surprise Gem of a Movie - CadyMae
We didn't know what to expect when we rented this movie. It turned out to be a great flick. Vin Diesel's performance exceeded any expectations we had, and he really made the character believable. The courtroom scenes were excellent, witty and vibrant, made ...Sidney Lumet's Courtroom Drama Has A Few Surprises - bwod
Now 84 years of age, famed director and screenwriter Sidney Lumet(Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon) takes on a challenging real-life story about a mob trial that happened in New Jersey back in 1987. Starring Vin Diesel, as Jackie D., a mobster drug-dealer, the case ...