A View From the Bridge

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
Drama

The Cast: John Turturro, Marisa Tomei, Eva Amurri, Sebastian Stan, Bobby Cannavale, Steve Buscemi

The Director: Stephen Frears
The Producer: Francis Ford Coppola

 
Plot:
Eddie Carbone (John Turturro), an Italian-American dock foreman, lives with his wife Beatrice (Marisa Tomei) and his orphaned niece, Catherine (Eva Amurri) in Brooklyn in the 1950s. Beatrice’s two cousins arrive from Italy. They are Marco (Bobby Cannvale) and Rodolpho (Sebastian Stan). They have entered the country illegally, hoping for a better life in America. Marco is a physically strong man with a starving family back home. Rodolpho is charming, young, good-looking, blonde, and single. Catherine instantly falls for Rodolpho.

After three weeks, Eddie finds out that Rodolpho and Catherine have been dating and sets about pointing out all of Rodolpho's flaws to Catherine and Beatrice. He persistently complains about Rodolpho's effeminate qualities, such as sewing, cooking and singing.

Catherine decides to marry Rodolpho. Eddie becomes desperate to stop the engagement and begs his lawyer, Alfieri (Steve Buscemi), to help him. Alfieri tells him that the only way the law is able to help him is if he informs the Immigration Bureau of the presence of the two illegal immigrants. At home he continues to insult Rodolpho, and ends up getting Rodolpho to fight in a boxing match. In retaliation, Marco challenges Eddie to lift a chair from the bottom of its leg, when Eddie fails to do this, Marco picks up the chair with one hand from the bottom of its leg and lifts it above his head.

Eddie catches Rodolpho having sex with Catherine. He goes to see Alfieri a second time. Alfieri advises him to let everything run its course. Eddie ignores his lawyer's advice and calls the Immigration Bureau. He comes back to learn that Catherine and Rodolpho are officially engaged, and Beatrice informs him that a couple more illegal immigrants have moved into the upstairs apartment. The Immigration Officers arrive and arrest the four immigrants, and Marco spits in Eddie's face in front of a street full of people.

Rodolpho is allowed to stay in the country due to his upcoming marriage, but Marco faces imminent deportation. Reluctantly, he promises Alfieri that he will not to take revenge on Eddie and is let out on bail. Eddie is still furious with his humiliation and refuses to attend the wedding. He rejects Rodolpho's offer to make peace and refuses to leave the house when he learns Marco is arriving.

A fight ensues between Eddie and Marco in the street with the whole neighborhood watching. Eddie brandishes a knife and attacks Marco, who turns the blade onto Eddie, killing him.




THE END.


Stark’s Comment:"One of those low budget quality films we also like to develop at the Studio, mainly looking for a ‘sleeper’, good reviews and some awards. Don’t expect here a blockbuster. But I expect an elite of moviegoers paying a ticket to watch it."

BOX OFFICE: 19 mill.
Net Gains: 0.4 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:"Well, we knew this wasn’t meant to be a blockbuster. Like past week’s ‘Short On Time’, saved from the flop by a handful of dollars. Cobb will still have to wait for his first box office’s success."

AWARDS

Nominations: 1

Best Actor - John Turturro

Wins:1
Best Actor - John Turturro