For some odd reason, this rich and poignant adaptation of actor-writer Chazz Palminteri’s play was never released on Blu-Ray domestically. Perhaps it was due to Savoy Pictures’ bankruptcy (something which kept the likes of “Last of the Dogmen” also off the format until recently), but regardless, this long overdue 4K restoration of the low-grossing – but fondly remembered – Fall ‘93 release is one of the top releases this month for movie buffs.
Robert DeNiro starred in and directed Palminteri’s own script, which offers a decidedly “Goodfellas”-type of feel off the bat with young Calogero (played by future “Veronica Mars” star Francis Capra and, later, Lillo Brancato) reflecting upon his childhood living in the Bronx circa 1960 – most specifically, his relationships with his bus driver pop (DeNiro) and a slick mobster (Palminteri) who lives around the corner. Eventually these two very different men and the way they lived their lives clash with “C” caught in the middle – though the second half of the film is also concerned with our now-teenage protagonist’s relationship with an African-American girl (Taral Hicks).
“A Bronx Tale” is well-acted and captures the essence of time and place. It’s also a very different type of film for DeNiro, who eschews playing the obvious mobster role here for a good-hearted father while Palminteri essays “Sonny” in an expansion of his one-man play. DeNiro only directed two features but he makes an assured debut here, capturing uniformly fine performances from the young actors playing “C” while letting the story unfold at a leisurely yet compelling pace. Once the movie shakes off the obvious influence from the first half hour of Scorsese’s 1990 classic, it finds its own footing.
Tribeca’s 4K restoration (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) of “A Bronx Tale” includes Dolby Vision HDR, an archival featurette, new interviews with DeNiro and Palminteri, and looks pretty solid overall. There are times when it seems like a bit of DNR has been applied but it’s a good looking disc on balance, especially considering the limited options fans of the movie have had to select from over the years on home video. In fact, given the movie’s later adaptation into a Broadway musical with Alan Menken songs, it’s stunning it’s taken this long for “A Bronx Tale” to be seen in a meaningful way that audiences can appreciate again.
