Straße zum Glück

One of the reasons I was so excited about this site when I first found it was the fact that the top ten movies and my top ten were so close. I continually find that the users here are very discerning (at least to what I think is good). This said, I can not believe so few of you have seen this film.

If you need a finely crafted, well acted rental some night, you probably can't do better. Danny Aiello is superbly cast, and Anthony Lapaglia has rarely been better.

See this film!!!!!!!!

and I cannot believe it didn't get more behind it as far as advertising prior to it's release. When I auditioned for the part; we were told that the movie would most likely be an Oscar nominee. It should have been; because it is excellent. Truly excellent. It is a great story and looking at it now; it feels a lot like The Sopranos. In fact Tony Sirico of The Sopranos was in it.

When we were filming in Charlotte; I never knew how much of a real story was in this movie. If you've ever filmed a scene for a movie; you know how much tunnel vision you really have. I didn't really understand it until I saw it almost a year later.

My part was of a lottery "finalist" in the movie at "Madison Square Garden". Properly played by the "historic" Charlotte Coliseum. Now..the Independence Arena.

I was there for 25 hours straight and I can't say I enjoyed it at the time. The local TV news interviewed me on air live (a major film in Charlotte was a big deal then) and I looked like a 70's reject with no sleep. I wasn't far from being that in reality! Although looking back; I am proud to say I was in this film.

Please see it if you have not and you will be better for it.

In many scenes, it reminds me "Death of salesman". In other, the movies of Martin Scorsese. In fact, it is a gem. About family, choices, options, with the perfect end reminding "It s a wonderful life". The best part - the performances. The atmosphere. New York and its characters. And something who could be defined, in strange sense, as magic. Short, a real great film.

29th Street is a cult hit and one of the most underrated films of all time. It is the touching story about a nice Italian guy who is at the same time blessed and cursed with good fortune. The acting in this film is 1st rate. Everyone nails their role down. Danny Aiello, Robert Forster, Lani Kazan are magnificent, but the actor who steals the show is Anthony LaPaglia.

The film combines Old School Italian-American humor with traces of mob genre films to tell the story about the 1st ever New York State Lottery winner in 1976 Frank Pesce(LaPaglia). The script is 1st rate, George Gallo's directing is excellent, the music is perfect for the film.

Pay attention to the scene when Frank and his pals go to the draft physical in order to apply to the Vietnam war. IT IS SO FUNNY!!

This is the type of film that you can watch over and over again. My buddies and I continuously quote this film. Enjoy and you will feel a lump in your throat @ the end of the film.

First rate drama-comedy that is delivered beautifully to us like a Valentine in the performances of Aiello and Lapaglia, who are brilliant as father and son who dream of dreams and hope for anything to come along. Their dreams start to become reality when Lapaglia has a shot at winning big on the lottery. Based on the true exploits of Frank Pesce, who has a role in the film, this is moving portrait about family, love and that little thing called luck.