Customer Reviews

Under Hellgate Bridge

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

UNDER HELLGATE BRIDGE (2000), has only two redeeming artistic values,
the first, is the professional, theatre-grade wide-screen,
cinematographical quality and the other one, is the presence and
charisma of a few cast members, above all Jonathan LaPaglia playing
Vincent (a bit of a more robust Bobby de Niro or William Baldwin),
Michael Rodrick as the best of 3 junkie brothers, and Vincent
Pastore playing a muscle man in Frank Vincent's crew, going by the
monicker Big Sal.

It's a mystery why those big name actors associated themselves with a
work that is a non-stop, introverted obsession on the junkie
lifestyle, as a one-trick pony.

The rest of the picture is a let-down, for the simple reason, that
the psychological climate is unstructured, chaotic, confused,
immature, similar to that found in the old JD Salinger novel, "The
Catcher in the Rye". Indeed, several characters take satisfaction in
their own self-pity and perpetuating it over the entire picture.

The audience will forgive the author of the script, if the events are
genuine, and were lived perhaps by a teenager, or are intended to
educate that audience. Notwithstanding that, the entertainment is
just not there.

The set is too predictable as inner cities and run down sections of
hyper-populated locations are obviously, stereotypically associated
with drug trafficking and consumption.

There's also the business-side with a bar being owned and operated
by the drug kingpin, who keeps business going well, by circulating
the powder, and calling the muscle for those interfering or
dismissing the consumption as bad, among the patrons.

Although the acting is professional from several actors, and sincere
by all the cast, there are a number of emotional situations that seem
too contrived to be appreciated.

In addition, the music seems haphazardly chosen, random, eclectic,
incoherent, although it does make the picture more effective than
otherwise.

There's a rape scene, that is totally uncalled for, unnecessary in
terms of the ugliness and impact on the public who paid for their
tickets or DVD rental. Pastore getting head in the backseat of a
Cadillac or Lincoln is another redundant moment.

Finally, the drug burn, at the end, seems out of place, a
non-sequitur since nothing had built up to that scene from earlier,
suggesting perhaps more time in the editing room could have helped.

Not at all what was expected (a mobster movie.)

Obviously, the person that suggested saving your ten bucks was reviewing the film according to the Sophranos. This isn't the Sophranos. This is an independent film that doesn't even have a quarter of the production money the Showtime series has -- and it turned out great! The actors and actresses in this film brought the characters to life, gave them a demension that people that literally live near Hellgate Bridge can relate to. They were real, not the flashy hollywood glamour characters that would have ruined this film. I say buy this film and some popcorn with that ten bucks and watch it just for it's entertainment value, not comparing it to another show :)

For those of you who insist this film used the Sopranos cast as a ploy to get people to watch it, you need to take a look at when Hellgate was actually made. While it was released much later (due to financial reasons, coupled with the fact that it was distributed in-house) the film was actually shot nearly two years earlier. This just happened to coincide with the Sopranos' popularity, but it was a mere coincidence.

Regarding the film itself, it's gritty, it's powerful, and it reminds me alot of some early Scorcese films.

It is refreshing to see that this style of filmmaking still exists in today's blockbuster shoot-em-up digital crap films.

Under Hellgate Bridge is a must see movie! If you like the Sopranos then this movie is right up your alley. Some of the Sopranos guys play it it including "Big Pussy" and "Uncle Junior". The movie was great, it had an excellent story, and I myself have purchased the DVD and will be watching it again and again. This movie deserves 5 Stars!!!! An A+ Movie!

Not knowing what to expect, I purchased this film becasue I've been a fan of Michael Rodrick's for some time now. If I thought I knew his before from his other work, or I thought that 'The Godfather' was a blood and guts movie, I was wrong. They had nothing on this film.

The acting was fantastic, from the begnning through the end of the film. Even though you knew where the film was taking you, you couldn't move.You HAD to watch.

Great great film.

UNDER HELLGATE BRIDGE (2000), has only two redeeming artistic values,
the first, is the professional, theatre-grade wide-screen,
cinematographical quality and the other one, is the presence and
charisma of a few cast members, above all Jonathan LaPaglia playing
Vincent (a bit of a more robust Bobby de Niro or William Baldwin),
Michael Rodrick as the best of 3 junkie brothers, and Vincent
Pastore playing a muscle man in Frank Vincent's crew, going by the
monicker Big Sal.

It's a mystery why those big name actors associated themselves with a
work that is a non-stop, introverted obsession on the junkie
lifestyle, as a one-trick pony.

The rest of the picture is a let-down, for the simple reason, that
the psychological climate is unstructured, chaotic, confused,
immature, similar to that found in the old JD Salinger novel, "The
Catcher in the Rye". Indeed, several characters take satisfaction in
their own self-pity and perpetuating it over the entire picture.

The audience will forgive the author of the script, if the events are
genuine, and were lived perhaps by a teenager, or are intended to
educate that audience. Notwithstanding that, the entertainment is
just not there.

The set is too predictable as inner cities and run down sections of
hyper-populated locations are obviously, stereotypically associated
with drug trafficking and consumption.

There's also the business-side with a bar being owned and operated
by the drug kingpin, who keeps business going well, by circulating
the powder, and calling the muscle for those interfering or
dismissing the consumption as bad, among the patrons.

Although the acting is professional from several actors, and sincere
by all the cast, there are a number of emotional situations that seem
too contrived to be appreciated.

In addition, the music seems haphazardly chosen, random, eclectic,
incoherent, although it does make the picture more effective than
otherwise.

There's a rape scene, that is totally uncalled for, unnecessary in
terms of the ugliness and impact on the public who paid for their
tickets or DVD rental. Pastore getting head in the backseat of a
Cadillac or Lincoln is another redundant moment.

Finally, the drug burn, at the end, seems out of place, a
non-sequitur since nothing had built up to that scene from earlier,
suggesting perhaps more time in the editing room could have helped.

Not at all what was expected (a mobster movie.)

Well I normally like movies like this but this low budget movie has really bad special effects and the acting is mediocre and the positive thing would be the story itself. I would not recommend you this movie even for its low price

Most of the people who were drawn to the theatre to watch this movie came on the basis of the soprano's cast members who appear in the movie. However, do yourselves a favor and go see Shreck instead. The movie is low budget with quite bad acting as well. The sopranos cast members only have minor roles in this flick, and its obvious they were used as a ploy to get people to come watch the movie.