Product Details

• Actors: Al Pacino, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Jerry Barone, Patrick Borriello, Andy Romano
• Directors: James Foley
• Writers: Joseph Stefano
• Producers: Arthur Cohn, David Korda, Joseph Stefano, Larry J. Franco, Rolf Deyhle
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: October 8, 2002
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304078137
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,046 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

This coming-of-age story about a young Italian-American boy (Jerry Barone) and his dying grandfather (Al Pacino) during the Depression has a strong "Cinema Paradiso" feeling (the title refers to the price of a movie that the poverty-stricken boy wants to see). Joseph Stefano's sentimental script has the grandfather imparting all the wisdom of a lifetime in one twenty-four-hour period. While the director, James Foley, works hard to capture the sombre, naturalistic ambience of Italian films of the forties, his touch is too often undone by Pacino's mugging. Still, the movie is worth a look, if only for the beautiful, touching performance by Jerry Barone. He has a face that De Sica could have built a great picture around. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Product Description

Two Bits [Vhs]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie, July 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Bits [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this movie on cable recently, and was very much taken with it. I had never seen it before, but I would like to watch it again with my children. The way it simultaneously portrays the perspectives of 3 generations, and their own imperatives, is beautiful. The camera work is wonderful, as is the soundtrack. This film also portrays very compellingly the pressures people were under during the great American depression, which helped me understand my parents much more than these WWII movies everybody is so excited about. I liked those when I was an adolescent though. I will purchase this when it is available on DVD. (I will only purchase VHS in very exceptional circumstances now, DVD being the far superior format.)

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GEM OF A MOVIE, September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Bits [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Sometimes the very best movies are those you never hear about. I never knew about this movie until it came out on video. A different kind of role for Pacino - low key and though he isn't actually on screen for that long, he's very effective in the role of the young hero's Italian grandfather (He's certainly come full circle from the Godfather movies). EXCELLENT MOVIE - A GEM!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Words alone wont describe this wonderfull film, April 12, 2008

By 

Ankur Mukherjee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Two Bits (DVD)

You rarely ever come across such films, and those films which are very rare to see or hear are the best ones. I am a fan of Al Pacino and I was really very happy to see him in a totally different role. A heartwarming, excellent performence by Pacino. So was Jerry Barrone who played the role of Pacino's grandson. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio did her part very well indeed. A very interesting film, a heartwarming drama that will touch your heart, specially the wonderfull chemistry between the grandfather and his grandson and the beautifull Scenario of Italy in the 1930's. The film will make you smile and shed tears too. A film you would love to see on a calm and quiet afternoon or on a rainy day. If you like intense films, good drama, this is a must for your collection.