THE DUKES MOVIE Review of ROBERT DAVI (directorial debut)
04 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in DVD REVIEWS, MOVIE and TV SHOW REVIEWS
THE DUKES – WINNER of 9 FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS under the DIRECTORIAL DEBUT of ACTOR/SINGER ROBERT DAVI
Movie review of The Dukes by KK Ryder http://kkryderentertainmentreviews.wordpress.com/
Robert Davi is on fire! I’m not talking like his Villainous character that at the end of the James Bond film “License To Kill” dies in a ball of fire…no; he’s catching on fire in the cinematic world! Being very hands on in the directors chair, Davi was able to combine his talents as an actor, singer and now successfully as a first time director. Davi’s directorial debut in THE DUKES, which he co-stars with a few of his “wise guy” type singing buddies, Academy Award nominated Chazz Palminteri being one of them, plays opposite Davi as George, Davi’s cousin and most definitely partner in crime. They once were rolling in the dough and selling gold as the #1 rock and roll Doo Wop group in the 60’s, however, decades pass and times change, feeling a little short changed in life, the cousins are now practically rolling dough and working in the kitchen at their Aunt Vee’s (Mariam Margolyes) Italian restaurant. Through an unfortunate yet fortunate unexpected trip to the dentist an eves dropped conversation turns into a very funny plot to steal some gold in this laugh out loud, yet very touching story about a divorced fathers love for his son, his music and the life that once was his in the Doo Wop world.
The film opens up with a very personable message from Robert Davi giving a brief synopsis of the film as he also explains that what you are about to watch is his directorial debut and at the end he says, “there is a message in the ravioli… So sit back and enjoy the Dukes”.
Enjoy THE DUKES… I DID, there were some very funny moments between the characters, some very touching sentimental affection between Father and Son and I really enjoyed the cleverness in Davi’s cinematic directorial ideas and script writing which he co-wrote with James Andronica. While introducing the characters and throughout a couple of the scenes there is this great 360 degrees feel that of the old 48 records, keeping with the tone of the film’s Doo Wop plot. Davi wanted the film to have a certain look and texture which he obtained through different camera angles and lighting techniques and working closely with DP Michael Goi. In one of the scenes it was actually filmed during the day but the purposeful grainy and dark brooding mood of the scene complete with coyotes yipping in the background gave you a certain nighttime feel. There is a really great present time shot that I just loved, it contrasts the characters and brings you into their lives at that particular time, you see a very touching nighttime fishing scene between Danny (Davi) and his son Brion (Dominic Scott Kay) who are having a heart to heart talk and Brion tells him that he really wants to hear him sing again and they continue to fish, I don’t know if there are any fish biting but under the same full moon there seems to be an awful lot of playful biting and fooling around between Danny’s cousin George and a make-up artist named Suzette (Joyce Westergaard) There are some very funny scenes as well, in the scene in which the characters are being introduced Davi really brings you into the personalities of these characters and there is some funny bantering between the pals, there is a kitchen scene where Danny is cutting onions with a divers mask on and of course the crazy fun caper of trying to steal the gold, comes complete with a 1920’s throwback burglar cinematic sped up camera shot that too, deserves a chuckle.
The soundtrack compliments the film in all ways through the re-created artistry of the sounds of Doo Wop by Nic. tenBroek to the “dentist chair” relaxing music provided by Alphonse Mouzon who plays Ray one of THE DUKES singing members.
I believe in the film I think I even heard a kazoo to enhance a comedic moment!
The film also has some outstanding locations, the VA Hospital in the San Fernando Valley, the beauty of Manhattan Beach and a few other popular spots you may recognize in Southern California, Abe’s Deli in Northridge and even Santa Monica. I really must include two of my very favorite lines from the film before closing…”Put me in a bag and bury me.cuz I can’t even afford a box” and here is a great explanation as to where you go when you are dead in a very comical way.. “Hollywood is limbo, you wait for everything, than your soul goes back to Santa Monica in a 1 bedroom apartment!” It’s not hard to understand why Davi’s directorial debut THE DUKES has received 9 Film Festival awards, You can expect to see more of Davi, not only as a film actor but as a screen writer/director and as a singer as well! You can catch him in an amazing tribute to “Ol Blue Eyes” on both CD and on the stage in Davi Sings Sinatra more information about THE DUKES can be found on http://www.thedukes-movie.com/index.html as Flip Wilson once said…”When You’re Hot, You’re hot!” and as I said, Davi is catching on fire!
The Dukes movie review by KK Ryder
The Dukes comes complete with Bonus Extras: Commentary with Robert Davi and Michael Goi, deleted scenes and interviews with some of the cast. THE DUKES also stars: Peter Bogdanovich, Miriam Margolyes, Elya Baskin, Melora Hardin, Frank D’Amico, Bruce Weitz, Eloise Dejoria, Elaine Hendrix and Joseph Campanella
DISTRIBUTOR: CAVU Pictures RUNTIME 94 min. RATING PG-13
