FAMILY BUSINESS

US, 1989, 110 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, Matthew Broderick.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.

Family Business was written by Vincent Patrick, author of The Pope of Greenwich Village. This is a piece of New York life, generations - of criminals.

The film was directed by Sidney Lumet and is reminiscent of many of his New York stories. With some of the oddbeat style, it reminds us of Dog Day Afternoon.

However, the film does not quite jell. The casting is excellent with Sean Connery as the patriarch, Dustin Hoffmann as his son and Matthew Broderick as his son. Perhaps the ethnic backgrounds of each of the actors does not make them a plausible family. The plot itself does not seem plausible either, even though it is presented in a stylised way. There is enjoyment in the film, but it seems to be a major disappointment from somebody like Sidney Lumet. His film immediately afterwards was the very successful police expose, Q and A.

1.The blend of the serious and the comic? Family portrait? New York story?

2.The opening and closing sequence with the rooves of New York City, Jessie's ashes? The authentic New York locations, atmosphere? The Cy Coleman score?

3.The title, reference to the family itself, to crime background?

4.The introduction to each of the characters: Vito and Dustin Hoffmann's screen presence, his relationship with Elaine, the blend of the Catholic and the Jewish, the Seder meal? The atmosphere of the meal? Seeing Adam (and Matthew Broderick's style)? The edge, having dropped out of his studies, his abilities? Jessie's phone call? Sean Connery's Scottish presence as Jessie? Wanting to borrow the money, the reasons, the court, his palaver? In prison, getting out?

5.The interrelationships: Jessie and his wife, his attitude towards his son, the way that he brought him up in tough New York? Prison? Vito resenting his father? His working in the meat industry, his marriage, his relationship with his son, wanting his son to be a scholar? Adam and his putting Jessie on a pedestal, resenting Vito?

6.Adam's presentation of the job: the discussion, the plan, the decision to go, the motives for each of the characters? The background of New York and the bar, the talk in the bar, the stories, the ethos, the games? The past and Doheny? His death, the celebration of the wake, the singing of `Danny Boy'? Each of them present? Vito's decision?

7.The background of the plan, buying the gear, the decision to go? Going in, the guard, the gloves, Adam ill-prepared, losing the documents, his being caught, the log, the alarm, the arrest? Waiting? Grief?

8.The handling of the situation: Adam and his words, fingers? Vito and Elaine, the lies, grief? The lawyer and the costs? Jessie and his going to jail? Vito and the pursuit of the vials, the decision to turn himself in? Telling Elaine the truth?

9.The court, the judge and his speeches about each, Adam's speech, the sentence, Jessie's anger, in jail, Adam visiting him, fighting in vain, his collapse, death? Adam wanting to be free?

10.The background of their talking to one another, tensions? Adam and his talk, with his mother, father? The argument on the street with his father, respect? The importance of the wake, the ashes? The celebration of the wake paralleling Doheny's? Adam sorry, the reconciliation between father and son?

11.Elaine and her being put upon, her life? The Christmas visit?

12.Vito and his meat work, the bashings? Marie?

13.Adam and his girlfriend, the relationship, breaking up?

14.The plot for the laboratory, Jimmy Chiu, the plan, the set-up, the vials being filled with water? Vito tracking down the truth?

15.A New York City story, rogues, having fun in crime, life, relationships, values, justice?