Rating: 
Summary: Subtitled in Flemish?
Review: "Christopher Walken and Chris Penn play 1930's hoodlums whose violent crimes cause them a degree of spiritual anguish rare among movie gangsters." Love it - 'Rare'. Nitch and Kinkyguard discussions over bootleg liquor deals were de rigueur in 30's gang culture, son, get it right. I bet even Al Capone went into half hour monologues on the nature of the divided self while chewing cigar butts. If only he had concentrated more on his tax papers than butt-end existentialism, but that's gangsterism for you. It's only the day job while you're a full time bar room philosopher.
Ferrara stalwart Walken has the most amazing hair in Hollywood. He looks like he steps every morning into that power shower depicted on 'Seinfeld'. If so, he should have empty eye sockets too. In the final scene, a puzzled look crosses Walken's face as he descends the stairs. Is he thinking "Where's the director?" It's a little late for that, Chris.
As for the other Chris, Mr Penn once again shows his remarkable ability to whip up a fine level of steam a-la the average boiling kettle, until he goes beetroot and then you wait for the inevitable projectile of flem from his gob. Luckily, the poor actress on the receiving end of this charming mouth candy was fortunate on this occasion to have her back to him. I'd rather not tell you why she had her back to him but in any case, it's the best position to be in when Mr Penn goes into full method meltdown. Out bulge the eyes, out goes the flem. If there was an oscar for flemming, Mr Penn would be Meryl Streep. This may account for the erratic cinematography in the film. Everyone from the runner to the sound guy is sliding in it. It no doubt led to many long, soul searching questions on the meaning of existence, not to mention accident insurance. For instance, "Why, in the name of God, life, the universe and everything, do I always work on low budget films where they can't afford a man with a bucket to run around after Chris Penn?" Probably because cars run out of petrol driving round Chris Penn. What chance has a lowly PA got on foot? They should consider a few wind-cheaters at the very least. If they don't, then it's their funeral.
Rating: 
Summary: The conscience of gangsters
Review: Abel Ferrara, like his star here, Christopher Walken, is not much noted for subtley. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed BAD LIEUTENANT, but it's not a particularly morally complex film, and tends to go just a wee bit over the top to make its points (which, really, is one of the reasons it's as impressive as it is -- sometimes bold strokes work, if you'll pardon an obvious pun). What's most interesting about THE FUNERAL is that it takes characters -- gangsters -- who all too often are treated in a cartoonish, romanticized fashion, and lends them considerable moral complexity. All the gangsters in this film are forced to continually confront their consciences in regard to what they've become; the characters played by Walken and Penn in particular are both extremely reflective, troubled men, and capable, in different ways, of being quite articulate about the moral ground they find themselves on. There IS something uneven and choppy about the film -- it almost feels like Ferrara was forced to cut it down from a considerably longer length to satisfy the studio, and there are things I'd've liked to see better developed -- but there is simply TOO much to recommend this film to take a star away for that. The performances are top-notch, and there's genuine thought put into a genre too often coloured with crayons. There may well be good things to say about GOODFELLAS and all that, but for their ills, this film is the remedy. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: I've had more fun at real funerals
Review: All labor, the labor of the factories and the fields, of the mines and the sweat shops shrinks in comparison to the labor required of sitting through this movie (I should call it a film because it does not 'move' at all). I enjoy Chris Penn as well as Christopher Walken, I also enjoy the gangster genre and it need not be a shoot 'em up to hold my interest. This film, however, wastes the time and talent of everyone involved, especially the viewer. Penn and Walker lament the loss of their brother, who in the only interesting note at all liked to attend Communist political meetings. The rest of the "plot" and "action" is not even worth describing if it even can be. Avoid this terrible disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Quiet Is The New Loud
Review: Although slow and somber, "The Funeral" is also an unsettling, intense, captivating and impressive movie. The story focuses the relationship between three brothers from the mob, and their reaction to the death of one of their own. This isn`t a typical picture about the mafia, one that focuses multiple chase sequences, gun shootings and random betrayals. Instead, director Abel Ferrara prefers to showcase the dramas and flaws of the characters, presenting a powerful cinematic experience about guilt, family, loyalty, union and choices.
It`s not an easy movie to get into, but it`s surely an original and worthwile one. It`s also way too depressing, still very well crafted, managing to be moving, poignant and emotionally heavy without getting melodramatic or over-sentimentalized. Ferrara creates a gritty, realistic and claustrophobic atmosphere, making for an addictive and memmorable movie. The cast is first rate, including Christopher Walken, Chris Penn and Vincent Gallo (creepy as always) among others.
Don`t be afraid to enter this funeral.
Rating:
Summary: Quiet Is The New Loud
Review: Although slow and somber, "The Funeral" is also an unsettling, intense, captivating and impressive movie. The story focuses the relationship between three brothers from the mob, and their reaction to the death of one of their own. This isn`t a typical picture about the mafia, one that focuses multiple chase sequences, gun shootings and random betrayals. Instead, director Abel Ferrara prefers to showcase the dramas and flaws of the characters, presenting a powerful cinematic experience about guilt, family, loyalty, union and choices.
It`s not an easy movie to get into, but it`s surely an original and worthwile one. It`s also way too depressing, still very well crafted, managing to be moving, poignant and emotionally heavy without getting melodramatic or over-sentimentalized. Ferrara creates a gritty, realistic and claustrophobic atmosphere, making for an addictive and memmorable movie. The cast is first rate, including Christopher Walken, Chris Penn and Vincent Gallo (creepy as always) among others.
Don`t be afraid to enter this funeral.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Twisted Reality
Review: Am I the only person who enjoyed this film? Does that say something about me? Abel Ferrara's The Funeral was amazingly created with class and dignity. Although very dark and frigthning at times, this film gives new meaning to the "mafia flick" that everyone is used to. This is not in any way a Godfather or Untouchables film, but it has it's own flavour with, I believe, one of Christopher Walken's best performances. The cast is supurb, I'm not too sure about Benicio Del Toro's Italian, but he along with other members pull off an intensely in depth look into the "American Family".
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Twisted Reality
Review: Am I the only person who enjoyed this film? Does that say something about me? Abel Ferrara's The Funeral was amazingly created with class and dignity. Although very dark and frigthning at times, this film gives new meaning to the "mafia flick" that everyone is used to. This is not in any way a Godfather or Untouchables film, but it has it's own flavour with, I believe, one of Christopher Walken's best performances. The cast is supurb, I'm not too sure about Benicio Del Toro's Italian, but he along with other members pull off an intensely in depth look into the "American Family".
Rating:
Summary: powerful performances
Review: an all star cast led by Christopher Walken and Chris Penn,this movie is a classic and a rare work of art.Annabella Sciorra,Isabella Rossellini,Benicio Del Toro all give powerful performances is this gangland epic.
Rating:
Summary: The DisHonoured Society
Review: Blood is supposedly "thicker than water." Abel Ferrara has crafted a clumsy variation on that timeless theme. It is the obvious tragedy of this film, the clear contradiction of every Italian movie cliche, that the character played by Chris Penn realizes at his own (and his brothers') peril. Anyone who watches "The Sopranos" uncritically, giggling at the antics of those murderous bastards, should be forced to watch this (uneven) movie. Finally, an Italian-American filmmaker saw the immorality inherent in the old formulae. We are too often ready to excuse the barbarous behavior in such films as "The Godfather" and all of its (often uncredited) sequels. Only a murderous society such as ours could find comedy in the internecine killings of the Mob. Abel Ferrara alone saw it for the obscenity that it is. And he could see no other conclusion than the one Chris Penn carries out in "The Funeral."
Rating:
Summary: The DisHonoured Society
Review: Blood is supposedly "thicker than water." Abel Ferrara has crafted a clumsy variation on that timeless theme. It is the obvious tragedy of this film, the clear contradiction of every Italian movie cliche, that the character played by Chris Penn realizes at his own (and his brothers') peril. Anyone who watches "The Sopranos" uncritically, giggling at the antics of those murderous bastards, should be forced to watch this (uneven) movie. Finally, an Italian-American filmmaker saw the immorality inherent in the old formulae. We are too often ready to excuse the barbarous behavior in such films as "The Godfather" and all of its (often uncredited) sequels. Only a murderous society such as ours could find comedy in the internecine killings of the Mob. Abel Ferrara alone saw it for the obscenity that it is. And he could see no other conclusion than the one Chris Penn carries out in "The Funeral."
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