Eine gute Nacht zum Sterben

I saw this movie at its premier at the Tribeca film festival. The director was in the theatre so the desire to laugh out loud was quelched, but looking back I'm not quite sure how I managed to contain myself. This was almost a good movie, the dialogue was good, the acting was good...the dialogue was good. The biggest problem was that it had many long, well written, funny scenes that had absolutely nothing to do with the movie. It meandered to the point where I had no idea where the film was going, and had already stopped caring. At one point the film stops in the middle of a graphic action scene to do a long, creepy claymation sequence that came completely out of left field. It wasn't a bad scene, it just didn't make any sense in context. There was definitely some talented people involved in making this movie, to bad that doesn't equal a good movie.

this film is a joy after the usual run-of-the-mill indie mediocrities. the story is taut and well written and the director demonstrates the deft touch of an accomplished storyteller. kudos to the director of photography who seems to have unlocked the new york city visuals in such a story-friendly manner. special admiration for the acting of michael rappoport who steals the show. his talents alone are worth the price of admission. this is a sharp little number that can just be enjoyed for its own sake, without all the pretensions of so many films that cry out to be dissected by the "critics". this is the type of film that sundance wishes it could generate.

A Good Night to Die is a down and dirty New York film. It is about a likable hit man named Ronnie, his not so bright protege, August, and an eventful day in their lives.

Michael Rappaport gives the most powerful performance of his career as the dim witted and intense student of the hit man arts. Gary Stretch plays the main character who goes to extreme lengths to protect his protege whom he feels responsible for bringing into their world. I've never heard of Mr. Stretch but I'm sure we all will very soon. He seems to jump off the screen and sit in your lap.

A entirely unrecognizable Ralph Macchio plays a psychotic killer with his partner (you never really know their exact relationship, but whatever it is, it's really weird) played by Ally Sheedy (always a bonus to see Ralph Macchio and Ally Sheedy play a murderous, psychotic duo)

Deborah Harry and Seymour Casell play rival mob bosses but this is more than your standard "the mob is after me" kind of movie.

The movie is filmed mainly in the streets of New York City. You can practically smell the city. One particular rooftop assassination scene really stands out. There was something very disturbing and wrong about how the person was done in.

I highly recommend this movie.

A Good Night To Die is a must see! This modern New York mobster film explodes with originality, humor and energy. The performances of the cast which consisted primarily of pop icons from the last quarter century consistently hits the mark, reminding the viewer of why they were fans in the first place.

The dialogue is lyrical yet rolls out of the actors mouths with the punch of a DeLillo novel. The director, Craig Singer and writer, Robert Klein take the viewer beyond the typical mobster film and raises it to the level of The Soprano's with the protagonist's struggle with loyalty and friendship.

Much like Pulp Fiction, Singer pulls out great performances from the most unlikely actors (Ralph Macchio & Ally Sheedy in particular). If enough people see the film, it could revive their careers.

Visually intriguing, yet somewhat thin on plot is a way to describe the film. But I found it riveting the first time through.

For people complaining about never seeing anything different, that it's always the same old junk, plot lines, scene set-ups, etc. --- this is a movie to see. If nothing else, it is out of the ordinary.

Without revealing the end, I'd be curious to see what others thought of the end in terms of who ordered which hits? (Be glad to hear from you via e-mail @ howardeber@aol.com).

No it's not a great one, but it is an interesting work from a director who clearly has something to say, and has an unusual way of saying it. Hopefully, we'll be seeing his name on more films in the future. I, for one at least, will be on the lookout for his work.