I just watch Bloodbrothers for the first time and I was quite impressed that the individual stories of each of the six (6) De Coco family members struck me as very real and heart felt. The two (2) senior middle aged De Coco male family members brothers Tommy (Tony Lo Bianco) and Chubby (Paul Sorvino) were especially well acted.
Tommy DeCoco's family is comprised of his troubled and mentally unstable wife Phyllis (Yvonne Wilder), and their two sons, ten (10) year old Albert (Michael Hershewe) who lives in fear of his mother's continued insistance that Albert is too thin and must eat more, and their adult 22 year old son Stony (Richard Gere) who is on the cusp of making the biggest decision in his young life, which is his chosen career path. Stony's father Tommy wants his son Stony to follow in his Italian heritage work path which is in construction, but what Stony really wants to do is to work with young children, most likely as an extension of the love and care he outwardly provides continually to his younger and troubled little brother Albert.
Tommy's brother Chubby, (Paul Sorvino) is filled with life and much love for his brother Tommy's entire family. In a very sombre moment in the middle of the film Chubby shares with the local wheelchair bound barkeeper Banion (Kenneth McMillan) why him and his wife do not have any children of their own and why Chubby is so deeply attached to his brother Tommy's two (2) children.
There are also strong supporting roles by actors Yvonne Wilder, Kenneth McMillan, Kristen DeBell, Floyd Levine, and Marilu Henner. The interaction
between Richard Gere and Marilu Henner helped both actors lead very succesful subsequent film careere.s Although the film runs for less than two (2) hours in length there is a lifetime of memories to capture our attention. Two such memorable examples are the birthday celebration of barkeeper Banion, and the family trip by car that everyone has to wear their Sunday best for as Tommy and Chubby surprise their respective families with what they have purchased for their families future use.
This is a film that is a classic and is worthy of a much higher IMDB rating. Maybe some families just cannot face reality, I for one embrace both the love and hardship almost all blue collar families are confronted with in our daily lives.
I give Bloodbrothers a most deserving 9 out of 10 rating
