Stealing Sinatra

I don't know where to begin. Perhaps the whole idea of this movie was just a disaster waiting to happen. There is nothing slightly humorous about a kidnapping. I don't know what was more offensive--the subject matter or David Arquette's "performance". It was like watching a bull get it's penis cut off, although I think the bull felt better afterwards. The filmmakers should find something about Sinatra other than his son's kidnapping to show (like, I don't know, his TALENT AS A SINGER!!!!). His family shouldn't have to relive that horror. Thank GOD it was just shown on HBO and not released in theaters. Please don't watch this if you have any self respect.

How well I remember the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. which followed closely on the wake of JFK's assassination. At the time I kept thinking why of all celebrities would someone choose Frank Sinatra's family to victimize with all of that man's legal and extralegal resources?

Yet three rejects from the gang that couldn't shoot straight actually did that incredible deed which fortunately for them, no harm, no foul and they all got incredibly early paroles. But the story of their trials and jail sentences is not told in this film.

One factual error that was made was that the strategy of claiming that the whole thing was a publicity hoax that young Sinatra was in on was one used by their defense attorney later on at trial. The three perpetrators didn't claim that right away.

Other than that, William H. Macy, David Arquette, and Ryan Browning are the three kidnappers in a story that sticks pretty factually close to the events as they happen. James Russo does a fine job playing the senior Sinatra, it's like seeing Old Blue Eyes himself. Fortunately the role did not call for singing like Sinatra.

Showtime produced this film for their network and the plot centered around David Arquette playing Barry Keenan the organizer of the plot. His rather amoral character is gone into somewhat, the other two roles of John Irwin (William H. Macy) and Joe Amsler (Ryan Browning) are left kind of up in the air by the script.

Stealing Sinatra is a factual retelling of one of the strangest events of the Sixties. A bit above average for a made for TV film.

Sinatra: "What do you want? A million dollars?"

Kidnapper: "That's not going to do it. We want $240 thousand."

LOL

"Stealing Sinatra" is a quiet little comedy about a bunch of dimwits trying to pull off a heist that's way out of their league. As straightforward entertainment, it's interesting & funny enough to keep you amused from start to finish. But for my money, I enjoyed it on a deeper level that tells the story of America's impending loss of innocence in the mid 60s following the single greatest wake up slap of the 20th century: the public assassination of President JFK. (And soon after, the public assassination of his accused assassin.)

But that would come later. This movie is a clever snapshot of American life on the verge of a serious reality check. There are no bullet-blazing gun battles, no violent beatings and splashes of blood across the screen, no dark gritty angst and political subversion. The main criminal mastermind doesn't even curse (aside from hissing "oh... sugar!" when things go afoul). By today's standards, this would be the most boring caper ever. But that's precisely what makes it so interesting.

David Arquette is perfect as "Barry", the criminal mastermind who looks like he'd be more natural selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door. William H. Macy is also perfectly cast as "Mr. Irwin" the confused, fatherly voice of reason, alternately dishing out Confucian wisdom and coaching Barry on how to be a better criminal. The supporting characters, Ryan Browning as criminal #3 "Joe", Thomas Ian Nicholas as the young deer-in-the- headlights kidnappee "Sinatra Jr." and of course a very convincing James Russo as Old Blue Eyes himself, make this a real treat to watch.

Like I said, don't expect a crime caper thrill ride of any sort. While there are some good suspenseful moments, the real attraction of this film is in its subtle, humorous portrayal of American innocence, even in the midst of a felony. A unique cross between "Suicide Kings" and "The Brady Bunch", this is a very human story that could practically serve as a cultural document... if anyone cared. As the opening titles go: "In 1963, an event happened that rocked the nation. This is not that event. But it really did happen."

Barry Keenan (David Arquette), a graduate from University High School in Los Angeles, was a nobody who wanted to be a somebody. In late-1963, he had a fantasy-plan of kidnapping a celebrity's son for a ransom of $240K, bragging about it to his only celebrity friend, Dean Torrence of the music duo Jan and Dean. Keenan's target became Frank Sinatra, Jr., and he managed to corral two reluctant/skeptical friends of his into carrying out his plot, kidnapping Junior from Harrah's in Lake Tahoe after a nightclub appearance. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the producers of "Stealing Sinatra" are unable to achieve the look of Tahoe or Los Angeles in 1963, this despite countless vintage cars lining the streets. Arquette gives a good performance despite not having much to work with. His Keenan is a weaselly, would-be hanger-on with dollar signs in his eyes; however, there's nothing in Howard Korder's script to suggest the accidental success Keenan would become (now a real estate developer, he's worth some $17M). William H. Macy, playing grounded, cogent cohort John Irwin, carries the film's final third with his solemn voice and hangdog expression, but the impersonations of the Sinatra's (Frank and Frank Jr., Nancy and Nancy Jr.) are disappointing. *1/2 from ****

Stealing Sinatra: is an average movie good for one time watch, from what i have read on the incident they skip a few things. manly the trial and sentencing which makes this story such a folk legend. With out this i fell the story is lacking completion.

the other movie "The Night We Called It a Day" is more interest story of Sinatra get up on stage in Melbourne Australia and calling a reporter a "$2 hooker". The hotel gets being besieged by protesters and the unions refuse allowing to fuel planes and yacht to leave until he apologized.