The Funeral

Some good elements, including good performances from Penn and Rossellini. Rather muddled script, with a few very poor scenes, at times resembling some kind of theological parody, and some unimpressive performances (which may be the fault of the screenwriter more than the actors or director). Nevertheless, in parts it evinces a bizarre kind of grotesque charm.

Some of the ideas put into this film are unusual for gangster movies, but in the end, I don't think they mature into something substantial enough for the viewer to take away. The Funeral seems to meander quite a bit before getting to the point. When it does, it treads some of the ground from Ferrara's earlier stuff (unpardonable villains experiencing a Catholic moment of grace and repentance) and whatever is new seems half-baked.

end = absolute abyss - especially the bullets in the coffin !

I guess this is a daft thing to say about an Abel Ferrara film, but this film has excellent performances, and ugly, difficult subject matter that make it unpleasant to watch. A career best performance for Chris Penn here, and Del Toro is (typically) a completely different person in this than in any other film he's been in. Rossellini and Sciorra are also particularly great.

Although it mostly feels like a minor crime film, featuring familiar themes and less than great direction, "The Funeral" has certain engaging moments and eventually takes a notable turn towards the dark that sets it apart from similar movies. The cast, which includes Christopher Walken and Benicio Del Toro, is pretty good, with Chris Penn standing out in a very powerful performance.

A little cheesy, but a watchable gangster movie.

A simplistic tale that's been done a million times before -- men are going crazy with their overly-aggressive gang conflicts, women are by proxy the voice of reason -- but it's done well here due to Ferrara's assured and deliberate pacing, which allows the excellent (and seemingly off the cuff) acting an amount of breathing space. The ending seemed a bit over-dramatic, though -- I mean, the last two minutes just do a total 180.

even better the second time!

Ferrara seems to step away from its stylish voyeurism just a little bit, in order to reveal a crude crime drama set in the time of the financial collapse: Ray's family is falling apart after the death of Johnny, and all these family men are about to explode of fear and angriness. They just a need a trigger: memory.

I was laughing at the end, and not in a good way. I like Ferrara and I love Walken, but this movie was ridiculous.

torridly paced; feels like a snapshot rather than a moving film. theological/political discussion needs expansion; plot needed better development and better use of brothers' chemistry.

A good crime family saga from Ferrara with excellent performances from all, especially Chris Penn and (of course) Walken.

Excelente! Já tinha visto a muito tempo atrás, mas agora que revi o filme realmente me conquistou. Não sei o que foi, mas acho que o clima "cru" e "real" tanto das atuações quanto da direção me fez acreditar realmente que aquilo estava acontecendo. Esse filme é lindo demais... Christopher Walken e Chris Penn estão ótimos! E o final é absurdamente foda!

Mayhem from all sides, yet it is brought to you in a very calm matter.

Good performances, but a gangster movie, irrelevant, there are many other much better.

Good film with a very surprising ending.Solid performances all round.

Os Chefões estreava há 25 anos no Festival de Veneza. A década de 90 foi maravilhosa para o Ferrara, só tiro, porrada e bomba, tanto que um filme excelente como Os Chefões empalidece frente a algumas obras-primas daquela década, mas por 90 minutos inclusive pude esquecer meu ranço pelo Vincent Gallo. Lembro quando esse filme passou na Tela Quente da Globo, quando ainda passava filme foda na TV aberta. Plus: David Patrick Kelly comunista. Box Versátil A Arte de Abel Ferrara.