Rating: 
Summary: Two Superb and Two Good Performances Elevate Mediocre Film
Review: I'm the world's biggest Rat Pack fan, so I'd have been partial to this movie anyway. And it is, essentially, a mediocre (if very good-looking) effort. Still, it's given "platform shoes" by two SUPERB performances--by Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr. Also very impressive are Angus McFadyen's performance as Peter Lawford (a very subtle performance) and William Petersen's dead-on impersonation of JFK (you can't even tell it's William Petersen!).
As for Ray Liotta as the Chairman of the Board--granted, he really doesn't act or sound or look like Sinatra. And his looks and demeanor are too young and petulant for the role of the mature Francis Albert. But he is very good, nonetheless. The problem is, Sinatra's looks and sound are too well-known, and the fact that Liotta can't even approximate them is too great an obstacle. Martin's and Davis's looks and sounds are well-known, as well, and Mantegna and Cheadle aren't Xerox copies of the originals, granted, but they SUGGEST them with sufficient deftness that, at times, it's really hard to tell the difference.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't 'Dig' it, Bury it
Review: It is hard to know who is responsible for this flop, since the writer and director both have credible titles to their credit but this clunker looks more like the work of a committee. The core of the real 'Rat Pack' were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Three incredibly talented and wildly popular entertainers who also had real business sense and also proved to be as popular off stage as on when they made a reputation for a free wheeling style that treated the world as one big cocktail party. The wider 'Pack' included Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Cesar Romero and other hangers-on. The Pack hit their peak in 1960 when they made the film, 'Oceans 11' about army buddies who pull a heist of Vegas casinos. The reputation they earned for shooting film by day and partying their way thorugh Vegas at night became more legendary than the movie itself. Watching a film about these swinging cats should be a ball. Instead it is a confused mess. The actors can't be faulted too much. Indeed, Joe Mantenga works hard slipping beneath the double-martini style of Dean Martin and develing into the character, he gets off one funny line when the Sinatra character outlines the plot of the Oceans 11 film and he replies, "forget the movie lets pull the job." But one performance can't outweigh a load of silly sub-plots that include overblowing the JFK/Sinatra relationship to the point it makes him look like Kennedy's campaign manger. Sinatra's longing for Ava Gardner, various mob related intrigues and Sammy's inter-racial relationships that prompt the movie to bring to the screen one of the most ridiculous song and dance routines ever witnessed. The film is all over the road. Why include fantastic exaggerations and bizarre fantasy scenes when their real lives were interesting enough on their own? A real waste.
Rating: 
Summary: A Litttle Off-Center, But Brilliant Nonetheless
Review: No matter how you slice it, "The Rat Pack" is a good movie. Great performances, a very well-written script that captured the subjects beautifully, a swinging soundtrack and stylish visuals all combine to make this a fantastic film..A better Sinatra could have been found out there, surely. Ray Liotta is a great actor in his own right, but just wasn't the right choice for this part. However, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis, Jr. (both were nominated for Emmys) were spot-on. Mantegna was wonderfully elusive as the deadpan, enigmatic, very sober Dino, and Cheadle stole the show as the immensely conflicted Sammy. I very much enjoyed Angus MacFadyen as long-suffering Peter Lawford and, even though he appeared only one or two times, Bobby Slayton as Joey Bishop. Good performances also came from William Petersen as JFK, Megan Dodds as May Britt, and Dan O'Herlihy as the scheming Joe Kennedy. And it doesn't hurt that the makeup (Emmy-nominated also) was great--take a look at the briefly-shown old Sinatra at the beginning! The movie tries way too hard to cover several years in a couple of hours. It completely skips any backstory (including the Pack's formation), leaves out lots of things and people, and ends far too early, cutting out the many interesting developments in the years to come; also, many key players included are downscaled, like Bishop, Monroe, and mobster Sam Giancana. Also, incredible dramatic license is taken in places, ranging from the not-so-important (like the fact that the Pack always had their hotel rooms on the same floor, and "One For My Baby" was recorded years before the end) to the major (Peter informed Frank that Kennedy wasn't coming over the phone from D.C., and Dino and Sammy weren't there, either). But, somehow, it all still works. Plot defects aside, there are some moments of sheer brilliance; the gang's music was used in striking ways to enhance what was onscreen. Sammy's first scene, with him singing, dnacing, and playing the drums AND the trumpet, really showed the immense body of talent he possessed (arguably more than any other Pack member) and the one-man showstopper he was. The group's carousing was caught nicely with the Summit re-enactment, and the after-parties in the great segment with "Ain't That A Kick in the Head" playing while the camera enters each member's hotel room. (Dean really would settle in with a comic book and a Western on TV!) The scene with Frank sailing with JFK at Hyannis Port, when Frankie was on top of the world, had "I've Got the World on a String" playing under it (it also played over the credits). Sammy singing "I've Got You Under My Skin" to the Ku Klux Klan; the juxtaposition of the lyrics and the situation--suddenly the words aren't about love anymore, but strong hate! This is a number that will leave you reeling. The final segment, with Frank singing "One For My Baby" as we see what becomes of the Pack and all their cohorts and remember their glory days, before Frank disappears in a cloud of smoke a la his "retirement" concert in '71, is as beautiful as it is stunning. I got chills when I saw the scene with Sammy, dressed in black satin pajamas, watching racist television reports about himself in an entirely white room. And Frank's introduction, singing "Live Till I Die," is beyond words. The lyrics sum up his life so well it's scary: "Those blues I lay low/I'll make them stay low/They'll never trail over my head/I'll be a devil till I'm an angel...Gonna dance gonna fly/I'll take my chance riding high/Before my numbers up I'm gonna fill my cup..." It may miss here and there, but all in all, "The Rat Pack" is an motion picture experience that should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: A Litttle Off-Center, But Brilliant Nonetheless
Review: No matter how you slice it, "The Rat Pack" is a good movie. Great performances, a very well-written script that captured the subjects beautifully, a swinging soundtrack and stylish visuals all combine to make this a fantastic film.. A better Sinatra could have been found out there, surely. Ray Liotta is a great actor in his own right, but just wasn't the right choice for this part. However, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis, Jr. (both were nominated for Emmys) were spot-on. Mantegna was wonderfully elusive as the deadpan, enigmatic, very sober Dino, and Cheadle stole the show as the immensely conflicted Sammy. I very much enjoyed Angus MacFadyen as long-suffering Peter Lawford and, even though he appeared only one or two times, Bobby Slayton as Joey Bishop. Good performances also came from William Petersen as JFK, Megan Dodds as May Britt, and Dan O'Herlihy as the scheming Joe Kennedy. And it doesn't hurt that the makeup (Emmy-nominated also) was great--take a look at the briefly-shown old Sinatra at the beginning! The movie tries way too hard to cover several years in a couple of hours. It completely skips any backstory (including the Pack's formation), leaves out lots of things and people, and ends far too early, cutting out the many interesting developments in the years to come; also, many key players included are downscaled, like Bishop, Monroe, and mobster Sam Giancana. Also, incredible dramatic license is taken in places, ranging from the not-so-important (like the fact that the Pack always had their hotel rooms on the same floor, and "One For My Baby" was recorded years before the end) to the major (Peter informed Frank that Kennedy wasn't coming over the phone from D.C., and Dino and Sammy weren't there, either). But, somehow, it all still works. Plot defects aside, there are some moments of sheer brilliance; the gang's music was used in striking ways to enhance what was onscreen. Sammy's first scene, with him singing, dnacing, and playing the drums AND the trumpet, really showed the immense body of talent he possessed (arguably more than any other Pack member) and the one-man showstopper he was. The group's carousing was caught nicely with the Summit re-enactment, and the after-parties in the great segment with "Ain't That A Kick in the Head" playing while the camera enters each member's hotel room. (Dean really would settle in with a comic book and a Western on TV!) The scene with Frank sailing with JFK at Hyannis Port, when Frankie was on top of the world, had "I've Got the World on a String" playing under it (it also played over the credits). Sammy singing "I've Got You Under My Skin" to the Ku Klux Klan; the juxtaposition of the lyrics and the situation--suddenly the words aren't about love anymore, but strong hate! This is a number that will leave you reeling. The final segment, with Frank singing "One For My Baby" as we see what becomes of the Pack and all their cohorts and remember their glory days, before Frank disappears in a cloud of smoke a la his "retirement" concert in '71, is as beautiful as it is stunning. I got chills when I saw the scene with Sammy, dressed in black satin pajamas, watching racist television reports about himself in an entirely white room. And Frank's introduction, singing "Live Till I Die," is beyond words. The lyrics sum up his life so well it's scary: "Those blues I lay low/I'll make them stay low/They'll never trail over my head/I'll be a devil till I'm an angel...Gonna dance gonna fly/I'll take my chance riding high/Before my numbers up I'm gonna fill my cup..." It may miss here and there, but all in all, "The Rat Pack" is an motion picture experience that should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Goombas Abroad
Review: Of course, it would be stupid to summurize the life of a group of individuals into two hours but, for the few years of his actions that are told in this movie, The Rat Pack displays Frank Sinatra as the image that people loved him for. If you're from an island or don't know the legend of Sinatra, or don't listen to his songs, the appreciation for this film won't be what it is to the fan of the lifestyle of glamor and cocktails that this musical icon defined. The acting is nothing below par and the cinimatography is some of the best work I've seen in years. For a man who has raised so much hell where ever he went, this movie demands respect from even the dumbest of viewers who couldn't tell you what "plot" means.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but Fun
Review: OK, so there are several problems with this 1998, sensationalist tale of Sinatra, his cronies, JFK and the mob. But, flawed as it may be, there is enough here to make it worth watching.
The major issue is the fact that Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, JFK, RFK, etc., etc. were so visible on screen back in the day and their images are forever preserved in peoples minds and memories forever. So when one sees a film like this, and they see contemporary actors playing historical figures of just a few decades ago, it doesn't always sit well with the viewer. Right off the bat, the cards were stacked against this film. Hell, in that respect it would be easier to make a film about Helen of Troy than Ol' Blue Eyes (We don't know for sure what she looked like, but we know she was attractive enough to launcha thousand ships).
The other issue was that Sinatra himself and his people tried desperately to a put a stop to this film. This is rather odd. Though he's hardly portrayed in the most positive light, he comes across much better here than he did in the 1992 miniseries which was authorized by Sinatra and produced by his daughter. Odd. At least here, Sinatra is seen as being someone who would do anything and everything for his friends.
Really, the plot focuses on Frank and the boys having the time of their lives as they quickly come together, film "Oceans Eleven," help elect Kennedy, and live large. Though their peak lasts only so long, it sure looked like a lot of fun.
Ray Liotta does a great job as the Chairman of the Board. He perfecty captures Sinatra's erratic behavior, volatile personality and borderline manic-depressive personality. He may seem, to some, like an odd choice, but check him out. You will be impressed.
Joe Mantegna tries his best to capture the essence of Dean Martin- an impossible task. While he looks and talks the part quite well, he never seems fully at ease in the role. Still, one must applaud his effort. Not even those closest to Dino knew him that well, so it can't be easy for any actor to truly get inside this enigmatic character.
Don Cheadle is quite good as Davis. Davis' voice and gestures have been so mocked over the years that it would be easy to play this character as a total caricature, but Cheadle brings tremendous heart to this role.
Speaking of caricatures, check out the Kennedy brothers! They may look the parts, but the actors are far from convincing (especially their awful faux-Boston accents).
Perhaps the real find here is Angus MacFayden as Peter Lawford. Not does he only bare a striking resemblance to him, but MacFayden seems to embody this troubled and tragic figure perfectly (Lawford was Sinatra's liason to JFK). His final confrontation with Liotta, at the very end of the film, is explosive and well worth the wait.
Critics may have reached their vedict prematurely on this film, claiming it to be a travesty and a poor depiction of somebody who is regarded as Hollywood royalty. At the end of the day, though, it is just a film and an entertaining one at that. It won't erase your memories of these pop-culture icons, but it will sure make you look at them from a different persepctive.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed but Fun
Review: OK, so there are several problems with this 1998, sensationalist tale of Sinatra, his cronies, JFK and the mob. But, flawed as it may be, there is enough here to make it worth watching.
The major issue is the fact that Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, JFK, RFK, etc., etc. were so visible on screen back in the day and their images are forever preserved in peoples minds and memories forever. So when one sees a film like this, and they see contemporary actors playing historical figures of just a few decades ago, it doesn't always sit well with the viewer. Right off the bat, the cards were stacked against this film. Hell, in that respect it would be easier to make a film about Helen of Troy than Ol' Blue Eyes (We don't know for sure what she looked like, but we know she was attractive enough to launcha thousand ships).
The other issue was that Sinatra himself and his people tried desperately to a put a stop to this film. This is rather odd. Though he's hardly portrayed in the most positive light, he comes across much better here than he did in the 1992 miniseries which was authorized by Sinatra and produced by his daughter. Odd. At least here, Sinatra is seen as being someone who would do anything and everything for his friends.
Really, the plot focuses on Frank and the boys having the time of their lives as they quickly come together, film "Oceans Eleven," help elect Kennedy, and live large. Though their peak lasts only so long, it sure looked like a lot of fun.
Ray Liotta does a great job as the Chairman of the Board. He perfecty captures Sinatra's erratic behavior, volatile personality and borderline manic-depressive personality. He may seem, to some, like an odd choice, but check him out. You will be impressed.
Joe Mantegna tries his best to capture the essence of Dean Martin- an impossible task. While he looks and talks the part quite well, he never seems fully at ease in the role. Still, one must applaud his effort. Not even those closest to Dino knew him that well, so it can't be easy for any actor to truly get inside this enigmatic character.
Don Cheadle is quite good as Davis. Davis' voice and gestures have been so mocked over the years that it would be easy to play this character as a total caricature, but Cheadle brings tremendous heart to this role.
Speaking of caricatures, check out the Kennedy brothers! They may look the parts, but the actors are far from convincing (especially their awful faux-Boston accents).
Perhaps the real find here is Angus MacFayden as Peter Lawford. Not does he only bare a striking resemblance to him, but MacFayden seems to embody this troubled and tragic figure perfectly (Lawford was Sinatra's liason to JFK). His final confrontation with Liotta, at the very end of the film, is explosive and well worth the wait.
Critics may have reached their vedict prematurely on this film, claiming it to be a travesty and a poor depiction of somebody who is regarded as Hollywood royalty. At the end of the day, though, it is just a film and an entertaining one at that. It won't erase your memories of these pop-culture icons, but it will sure make you look at them from a different persepctive.
Rating:
Summary: "How did all of you people get into my room?"
Review: Probably a most accurate dramatization of the era that was "the Rat pack". Beneath the glamorous surface however, trouble emerges with bad press, internal conflicts between the members, involvement in both political and mob-related affairs and racial issues. The movie as a whole reflects in a superb manner the revolving times in which the events supposedly took place, but also underlines the admirable and honest friendship between the fine performers. Liottas'Sinatra grows on you and this has to be one of his best performances to date. Overall the acting is competent and believable, and in my opinion the movie serves well as a nice memorabilia of "the Rat pack". As a big fan of both Sinatra and Martin, this "behind the scenes"-drama was very enjoyable for me earning it 5 stars. Fans expecting a musical fiest may however be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Don Cheadle steals the show
Review: Ray Liotta is a little too Ray Liotta to be completely convincing as Sinatra, Mantegna's Dean Martin is interesting, but Don Cheadle's performance as Sammy Davis, Jr. is absolutely amazing, and the "I've Got You Under My Skin" dream sequence is one of the best filmed scenes to hit a screen, big or small, in recent years.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie poor tech quality on the DVD
Review: The film is great. Rob Cohen did a tremendous job directing. The actors (Don Cheadle especially) were terrific. My only complaint is that the tech quality on my particular DVD was bad. The extra features didn't really run correctly, but the movie itself looks fine. either way...BUY it! I love this film.
|
