Strictly Sinatra

Rating:
Summary: Ian Hart does it his way
Review: Ian Hart is always an amazing performer, and this role is no exception. This is the story of Toni Cocozza, a small-time Scootish crooner with dreams of being the next Sinatra. It looks like he might finally be catching a break when he catches the eye of a "prominent local businessman" and meets the girl of dreams but nothing is ever that easy and he finds he has to earn his keep among in his new circle, much to the horror of his true friends.

There is not a bad performance in the film. Kelly Macdonald, Alun Armstrong and Brian Cox portray their characters wonderfully, but it is ultimately Ian Hart's movie and he doesn't disappoint. I also think he sings quite well.

Technically, there are no extras on the DVD which is a bit frustrating, but what can you do?

Rating:
Summary: The slippery slope
Review: Ian Hart plays Tony Cocozza, a lounge singer who specializes in Sinatra songs--hence the name of his act "Strictly Sinatra." While Tony respects and idolizes Sinatra, he gets little respect from his audience and is more or less a laughing stock. Then one night, he is sent a request--something other than a Sinatra song. At first he refuses. He is, he says, true to his "Strictly Sinatra" format, but he bows to the pressure and performs the requested song for a local mobster and his Sinatra-crazed wife, Dainty.

Soon, he is singing at the mob casinos, singing at their Christmas parties, and doors that were slammed shut in his face, mysteriously open.

There is a price to pay for this, and Cocozza pays it--little realizing where all this will inevitably lead until one incident presents him with a moral dilemma, and he is forced to make a choice.

Excellent film--excellent acting by all involved. I can't think of a film in recent years that portrayed the insidious moral seduction of a character so well.

Rating:
Summary: Strictly for Ian Hart Fans
Review: Ian Hart, so convincing as John Lennon in "Backbeat," plays again a singer. He is Toni Cocozza, a Glaswegian crooner who sings only the songs of Sinatra (hence, the title). He dreams of being like Sinatra, but it is painfully obvious that he lacks something that will make him a star.

But one day he accidentally gets acquainted with the local mobsters, after singing "In the Ghetto," much against his original intention. Anyway, Toni thinks this could be oppotunity for him, for Chisholm, one of the gangsters (played by Brian Cox) is interested in him, not as a singer maybe, but who cares? And Chisholm says he met Frank in person, which draws this naive, starrey-eyed Toni into underworld.

The film shows some good characters, including Toni, Chesholm, and Toni's girlfriend Irene (played by wonderful Kelly MacDonald "Trainspotting"). And the film has very moody atmosphere. The acting is good, though the singing is not, because the point is, Toni is not supposed to be a big timer.

But the most disappointing thing is its very conventional story and lack of power at many crutial moments of Toni's life. Toni is involved in many crimes, about which he shows little concern or interest. Ian Hart's deft performance cannot help the film from being just another ordinary UK gangster film.

This is not a Frank Sinatra film, or about jazz singer for that matter. Consider this an off-beat gangster drama, and you might find it interesting.

See Richard E Grant who briefly appears as himself.

Rating:
Summary: Strictly for Ian Hart Fans
Review: Ian Hart, so convincing as John Lennon in "Backbeat," plays again a singer. He is Toni Cocozza, a Glaswegian crooner who sings only the songs of Sinatra (hence, the title). He dreams of being like Sinatra, but it is painfully obvious that he lacks something that will make him a star.

But one day he accidentally gets acquainted with the local mobsters, after singing "In the Ghetto," much against his original intention. Anyway, Toni thinks this could be oppotunity for him, for Chisholm, one of the gangsters (played by Brian Cox) is interested in him, not as a singer maybe, but who cares? And Chisholm says he met Frank in person, which draws this naive, starrey-eyed Toni into underworld.

The film shows some good characters, including Toni, Chesholm, and Toni's girlfriend Irene (played by wonderful Kelly MacDonald "Trainspotting"). And the film has very moody atmosphere. The acting is good, though the singing is not, because the point is, Toni is not supposed to be a big timer.

But the most disappointing thing is its very conventional story and lack of power at many crutial moments of Toni's life. Toni is involved in many crimes, about which he shows little concern or interest. Ian Hart's deft performance cannot help the film from being just another ordinary UK gangster film.

This is not a Frank Sinatra film, or about jazz singer for that matter. Consider this an off-beat gangster drama, and you might find it interesting.

See Richard E Grant who briefly appears as himself.

Rating:
Summary: Strictly for Ian Hart Fans
Review: Ian Hart, so convincing as John Lennon in "Backbeat," plays again a singer. He is Toni Cocozza, a Glaswegian crooner who sings only the songs of Sinatra (hence, the title). He dreams of being like Sinatra, but it is painfully obvious that he lacks something that will make him a star.

But one day he accidentally gets acquainted with the local mobsters, after singing "In the Ghetto," much against his original intention. Anyway, Toni thinks this could be oppotunity for him, for Chisholm, one of the gangsters (played by Brian Cox) is interested in him, not as a singer maybe, but who cares? And Chisholm says he met Frank in person, which draws this naive, starrey-eyed Toni into underworld.

The film shows some good characters, including Toni, Chesholm, and Toni's girlfriend Irene (played by wonderful Kelly MacDonald "Trainspotting"). And the film has very moody atmosphere. The acting is good, though the singing is not, because the point is, Toni is not supposed to be a big timer.

But the most disappointing thing is its very conventional story and lack of power at many crutial moments of Toni's life. Toni is involved in many crimes, about which he shows little concern or interest. Ian Hart's deft performance cannot help the film from being just another ordinary UK gangster film.

This is not a Frank Sinatra film, or about jazz singer for that matter. Consider this an off-beat gangster drama, and you might find it interesting.

See Richard E Grant who briefly appears as himself.

Rating:
Summary: DECEPTIVE BOX COVER -- NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL -- CRUMMY MOVIE
Review: THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL!

The box cover image is deceptive. Amazon doesn't show a VHS box image at the time I am writing this, but they have an image for the DVD (and it's the same one). The box shows a man in a tuxedo, (Tony, the main character). The background is the LAS VEGAS STRIP. Right? It shows the strip looking from the vicinity of The Stratosphere looking toward The Mirage or so.

THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL though. In fact, except for the last 20 seconds of the movie, THERE IS NO AMERICA IN THIS MOVIE EITHER.

The movie is weak. Its impossible to care about ANY of the characters. And goodness, what was the producer thinking having Tony go around throughout the movie wearing a ridiculous 20 dollar winter coat that looks like it belongs on a school kid?

He is not credible as a singer at all. The entire movie is Irish accents. Nothing but Irish accents. If you like that, then fine, but otherwise it will drive you out of your mind.

The singing was miserable. The version of My Way sung near the end was sickeningly bad.

Nobody acted well. The story is constantly absurd. The acting has no credibility. There is never a moment when you believe that these are real people in real situations.

Even when they are acting in a life or death situation, the acting is so bad that you will not for a second believe that they are living what they are acting.

AND THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL.

Rating:
Summary: DECEPTIVE BOX COVER -- NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL -- CRUMMY MOVIE
Review: THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL!

The box cover image is deceptive. Amazon doesn't show a VHS box image at the time I am writing this, but they have an image for the DVD (and it's the same one). The box shows a man in a tuxedo, (Tony, the main character). The background is the LAS VEGAS STRIP. Right? It shows the strip looking from the vicinity of The Stratosphere looking toward The Mirage or so.

THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL though. In fact, except for the last 20 seconds of the movie, THERE IS NO AMERICA IN THIS MOVIE EITHER.

The movie is weak. Its impossible to care about ANY of the characters. And goodness, what was the producer thinking having Tony go around throughout the movie wearing a ridiculous 20 dollar winter coat that looks like it belongs on a school kid?

He is not credible as a singer at all. The entire movie is Irish accents. Nothing but Irish accents. If you like that, then fine, but otherwise it will drive you out of your mind.

The singing was miserable. The version of My Way sung near the end was sickeningly bad.

Nobody acted well. The story is constantly absurd. The acting has no credibility. There is never a moment when you believe that these are real people in real situations.

Even when they are acting in a life or death situation, the acting is so bad that you will not for a second believe that they are living what they are acting.

AND THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL.