Posted on 01/11/2023 1:10:32 AM PST by Cronos
It’s easy enough to forget that Joe Pesci once starred in movies – he’s more or less retired from film acting, giving a total of three on-screen performances in the past 24 years.
Following his exemplary 1990, when he appeared in one of the most acclaimed movies of the year – Goodfellas, for which he later won an academy award – and in the highest-grossing film of the year – Home Alone – Pesci booked a number of top-billed roles, often capitalizing on his facility with slapstick comedy, his Scorsese-bred gangster attitude, or both. Some worked; many didn’t. Pesci remained in demand, but by the decade’s end, he stepped back from movies, unofficially retiring with his status as a character actor who got an unlikely shot at stardom.
....Pesci’s Oscar for Goodfellas – as best supporting actor, naturally – was both a worthy recognition and a prelude to a pigeonholing, as Oscars so often are. As Tommy DeVito, Pesci plays volatile sideman to the more controlled burn of his frequent on-screen partner Robert De Niro, as well as the film’s younger narrator, Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). In his most famous scene, Pesci essentially confronts the other characters over his own scene-stealing: “Funny how? What’s funny about it?” he demands to know when Henry tries to compliment him on a well-told story. After a minute, Tommy relents, and everyone laughs about it, but the scene still feels like a warning from Pesci: don’t trust that this mouthy, magnetic guy is going to settle into comic relief. Indeed, he doesn’t: another round of barroom joshing ends with Tommy murdering a lackey in cold blood.
...Pesci is such a consummate supporting player that even in his greatest starring vehicle, he shares the driver’s seat.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
He made his shoes look like mirrors.
Pure perfection as Cousin Vinny!
De Niro: “Goodfellas”
Pesci: “Goodfellas”,”Casino”
Tom Hardy: “Legend”,”Peaky Blinders”
These three guys are so good at portraying murderous psychopaths that it must be part of their actual character and,as a result,I wouldn’t want to meet any of them in a dark alley.
“His screen persona is very close to his real life persona.”
According to “Jersey Boys”, Pesci was the first manager of The Four Seasons, when he was very young — from the same neighborhood.
The neighborhood was Silver Lake, a section of Belleville NJ; comprised mainly of Italians; mostly Sicilians.
My uncle grew up with them and was their first manager, getting hem local gigs.
Before they were called the Four Seasons, they had a different name; the name slips my memory.
If Pesci was involved, it came later. I don't think Pesci was from Silver Lake.
If I recall correctly, the original name was “The Four Lovers”, or something like that.
"If it was my show, I would have given her such a smack!"
I remember when he hosted SNL some years ago. The bit was he was shopping for a pinky ring. He’d put one on and watch himself in the mirror mimicking what gangsters do, changing rings until he found the one.
I posted before I saw yours. Funny skit.
Walter Brennan
He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), and The Westerner (1940), making him one of only three male actors to win three Academy Awards,
.....and the ONLY male or female actor to win three awards in the supporting actor category.
Lol. They’re all about 5 foot 5. DeNiro has to wear huge lift shoes.
Apparently, the writer of the movie/play script played fast and loose with the truth.
Leo Getz
So there is an element of truth....
I remember that always. And it’s sooo true
I must have missed that one for some reason. Funny since until SNL got really bad, I typically watched every one.
I watch it every time I come across it when I channel surf...
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