29th Street (1991)

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It's 1976. Frank Pesce Jr (Anthony LaPaglia) is announced the winner of the first New York State lottery worth $6.2 million. Instead of being happy, he angrily pelts the church with snowballs. He gets taken to the police station where he explains his story to Sgt. Tartaglia (Robert Forster). He has always been lucky. On the other hand, his father Frank Sr (Danny Aiello) is always unlucky.It's got a lot of the Italian stereotypes in a meandering boring story. It's suppose to be quirky fun but none of it makes me laugh. LaPaglia is more annoying than charming. The last half hour turns into something more interesting. It would help the movie to have a more compelling family instead of this standard bickering clan. I had a tough time feeling the love until the last bit.

This is a great and unusual Christmas story. It is tied together neatly. The vast majority of the story is told in flashback---but it is done so without moving back and forth between past and present---instead it has bookends.If it wasn't for the use of profanity, this movie would likely be PG and would have gained a larger audience. It is reminiscent of Moonstruck in its style and overall quality. If anyone has a problem with the movie, it is with the ending---because it seems like it couldn't possibly happen---however, it did as it's based on a true story. No one would have dreamed up an ending like that. Knowing it's a true story makes it more rewarding.All the characters are very well developed and enjoyable. Simply put, the movie is fun! It is one of my favorite Christmas movies---(along with "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Bishop's Wife," and "We're No Angels"---the original versions of each---not the remakes). If you're Italian or from the east coast, you absolutely must watch this movie. Enjoy! Miracles can happen!

I saw this on video at a friends house a few years ago and have since seen it another 7 times. Anthony LaPaglia plays the lead role well and Danny Aiello is the man. The movie is based on a true story and the real life person that LaPaglia plays is in the movie as the main characters older brother. Tony Sirico (Pauly Walnuts) of Sapronos fame is in this film as what else? A mobster. Every time I see my friend who introduced me to this film, I yell "Im not a loser" as well as other quotes from this movie. Good thing it is now available on DVD.Its a must see family film. If you have an extensive DVD collection like I do, this is a must have.

This picture hit the hard luck family right on the nose. A hardworking family with age old values struggles with life while one floats along with an odd sort of luck. you can see the frustration between a focused father and a happy go lucky dreamer son as he bounces from dead end jobs to affiliating with the seedy underworld mob types. Good laughs and near misses in tragedy fuel this well developed plot. The ending is unbelievable and will leave you with a warm feeling in your heart. you will believe that anyone can triumph no matter how bad the situation is.