The Dukes

"The Dukes" written and directed by Robert Davi was a nice slice of life movie in which I admire in European films. The characters were well defined with all the defects that make us all human. I was touched by their friendship and how they bumbled through life much like most of us. Davi approached the female characters with a surprised sensitivity. The tone of the film would seem very predictable, but I was surprised at how unpredictable it was. The film left me with a nice feeling about what is really important in life. If there was anything missing in this film, it would be there was not enough of the Dukes singing. I applaud Robert Davi writing and for his achievement in his directorial debut.

I saw the The Dukes movie last night at the Wildwood Film Festival and liked it very much. I am surprised to see it listed as a drama because I didn't see it in that light. I thought it was a good light-hearted comedy that I would recommend as a good family movie. It has a nice story about being down on your luck while trying to hold on to your dreams. I've not seen a movie with Chaz Palmenteri in a comedic performance and found him to be very funny. The movie has some really funny scenes between Robert Davi and Chazz Palminteri playing well off of each other. The music was really good too. I thought there was a nice selection of Doo Wop songs and I especially liked the music by the group, The Emeralds. It was nice to see a local acapella group featured in a really good movie. If the movie comes your way, go see it - you won't be disappointed.

I saw THE DUKES at the french International Comedy Film Festival located in a famous ski resort called Alpe d'Huez. The movie was great with a very nostalgic atmosphere. The audience loved it and it was great to see the actor/director Robert DAVI getting an award for his movie. There was a standing ovation and that guy was really cool ! Everybody knew him from DIE HARD or GOONIES or PROFILER. He was acclaimed by french stars called José GARCIA, Fabrice LUCHINI. The soundtrack is great. We hope the movie will be released soon. The screening was held in the main theater of the festival and the crowd was huge for the final night. This festival is the most important in France for Comedy films. THE DUKES had this nostalgic touch which made the audience happy. It was a great film selected with JUNO. Otherwise most of the films were french.

The Dukes is a story about former Italian American Doo Wop stars (Davi and Palminteri) who have devolved into a dead end existence working in a family Italian restaurant as short order cooks, under the close supervision of their strong willed aunt. Their wish to revive their career seems self evidently hopeless as their droll and equally devolved manager (Bogdanovich) gets them one ridiculously funny--and absurdly degrading--opportunity after another--only to have the group fail in getting any work.

Due to both desperation and a series of very amusing coincidences, Davi and Palmintieri conceive of a ludicrous plan to heist a large shipment of gold. Here, the plot twists begin to take over and command the audience. A combination of Murphy's law, misguided trust,and an hilarious botched implementation bring the group back down to earth. And back to an even more seemingly hopeless devolved state than where they began.

Through a series of tragicomic realizations the group learns what they already knew--hard work, self pride, and real focus is their only hope. But the writer/director Davi could not let them off that easy. They need to be comically punished again, and again....until he finally lets them of the hook in a terrifically funny and satisfying ending.

Saw this film at the DGA, great performances, heart warming, and very funny. Some classic moments, great chemistry between Chazz Palminteri, Robert Davi and Peter Bogdanovich. Miriam Margolyes is great as Aunt Vi, a role she normally would not be thought of. Elya Baskin is hysterical. Frank D'amico, who i have not seen before, is terrific. Eloise DeJoria combines sensitivity with a subtle comedic quality. Melora Hardin, from The Office,hits just the right tone as Danny's(Robert Davi)ex-wife.Bruce Weitz,Elaine Hendriks and Joyce Westergaard are all terrific. This is Robert Davi's first time directing and he does a fantastic job. The film has many twists and I could not predict where things were going ,which I normally do very easily.I laughed as hard in a few places as I ever had. The blending of pathos, humor and believabilty are rare these days..A MUST SEE