Welcome to the 3rd Season kickoff of Fabulous Film and Friends where this week we’re going to pit a pair of beloved personal favorites from the 80’s against each other in an epic duel of characterization, star power and cinematic moxie. We’re talking about 1984’s The Pope of Greenwich Village directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Burt Young, Daryl Hannah, Kenneth McMillan, Tony Musante, Jack Kehoe, and Geraldine Paige up against 1988’s Midnight Run directed by Martin Brest and starring Robert DeNiro, Charles Grodin, Yaphett Koto, John Ashton, Joe Pantoliano, Jack Kehoe again, and Dennis Farina.
My guests this week are the usual wise guys: Author George Young, Snotty lit major and lil’ Sis Roseanne Caputi and Actor Funnyman, Alex Robertson.
Before we dive in with the fishes, the synopses.
The Pope of Greenwich Village tells the story of Charlie Moran and Paulie Giboni two cousins from the neighborhood who get in over their heads when ne’re do well Paulie convinces Charlie to rob a safe belonging to notorious mobster Bedbug Eddie Grant with a $150,000 payout to dirty cops.
Midnight Run catalogues the misadventures of bounty hunter Jack Walsh who has what is seemingly an easy job or Midnight Run of getting mob accountant Johnathan The Duke Mardukis back to LA before his sleazy Bail Bondsman employer loses his shorts in a $450,000 bai bondl if the Duke fails to show at trial. The problem: The mob, the FBI and Jack’s rival Marvin are hot on Mardukis tail and want him either dead or for their own purposes.
Which personal favorite is the winner?
Find out!