dennis farina Archives - Movies In Focus

Notebook Reviews: SNATCH

Guy Ritchie – 2000. Guy Ritchie’s Snatch is an enjoyable enough gangster flick. There’s a good cast who deliver some interesting performances – most notably the mighty Dennis Farina, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro and Vinnie [...]

September 23, 2023

Behind The Scenes: Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron & John Frankenheimer On The Set Of REINDEER GAMES

Director John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games (aka Deception) is a festive thriller starring Ben Affleck as an ex-con forced into robbing a casino at Christmas dressed as Santa Claus. Frankenheimer’s film makes the most of film’s [...]

December 19, 2021

Notebook Reviews: OUT OF SIGHT

Steven Soderbergh – 1998. Out Of Sight is as slick and fun crime film from director Steven Soderbergh. If you need an example of a movie in which all the elements come together in a perfect way, then this is it. The direction is superb, the [...]

September 20, 2021

Behind The Scenes: Jennifer Lopez & Steven Soderbergh On The Set Of OUT OF SIGHT

Director Steven Soderbergh‘s big screen adaptation of Elmore Leonard‘s Out Of Sight was released in June 1998. Written for the screen by Scott Frank, the film was Soderbergh’s first collaboration with George Clooney – the [...]

September 15, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Michael Mann’s THIEF

Michael Mann films have always been about restraint and precision and this was never more evident than in Thief. Mann made his big screen directing debut with this 1981 film which sees James Caan as a career criminal whose well planned existence [...]

August 29, 2021

Notebook Reviews: STRIKING DISTANCE

Rowdy Herrington – 1993 Striking Distance is an enjoyable enough, if unspectacular Bruce Willis vehicle. It lacks spark and the workman like direction and flat script don’t make for much excitement. The film has a few good moments but [...]

February 21, 2021

Behind The Scenes: James Caan & Michael Mann On The Set Of THIEF

Michael Mann’s Thief isn’t an all guns blazing cops and robbers drama. It’s a thoughtful and direct crime movie, with a great lead performance from star James Caan. The 1981 thriller sets up the themes that Michael Mann would continue [...]

October 24, 2020

Behind The Scenes: Michael Mann, William Peterson & Dennis Farina On The Set Of MANHUNTER

Michael Mann’s Manhunter introduced the world to Hannibal Lecter (spelled Lektor in the film). Mann’s 1986 film offered-up a visually bright, but emotionally dark film that might appear to be a thriller, but it has its roots firmly in the [...]

October 4, 2020

Blu-ray Review: Buddy-Up With Robert DeNiro And Charles Grodin In MIDNIGHT RUN

Director Martin Brest followed up the huge success of Beverly Hills Cop with another action-comedy, Midnight Run. Brest’s deft touch behind the camera makes the buddy movie a fun romp, even if it is very much a product of ‘80s Hollywood. [...]

April 5, 2015

Blu-ray Review: James Caan In Michael Mann’s Classic Crime Drama THIEF

February 1, 2015

We’ve Lost Dennis Farina; One Of The Good Guys

Dennis Farina was good of the good guys (literally, he was cop before he became an actor). Farina was the type of performer who could enhance a movie, even if he was in just one scene. He’s most famous for his tough guy roles, but he could deliver [...]

July 22, 2013