A Bronx Tale (1993) * * * 1/2

Directed by:  Robert DeNiro

Starring:  Chazz Palmintieri, Robert DeNiro, Lillo Brancato

When this film was first advertised upon its release, I thought I was in for a battle over a Bronx teenager's soul between the boy's father and a local mobster.    Because that never really materialized, I was rather disappointed in it and left it at that.    Upon more viewings, I liked it more.    The film is based on Palmintieri's autobiographical one-man play.   I'd be fascinated to see how he plays all of these unique characters.   

In A Bronx Tale, Palmintieri plays only one role, that of Sonny.   Sonny is a tough local mobster who takes a boy nicknamed C under his wing at an early age, becoming a street father figure to him.    C's actual father, played by DeNiro, is a straight-arrow bus driver who works hard for a living and wants to instill in his son that there are no shortcuts in life.    C's father warily eyes Sonny from a distance and fears his influence on his son.   Sonny dresses flashy and is feared.   When asked if he would rather be loved than feared, Sonny answers unequivocally that he would rather be feared.    Sonny is no-nonsense and exercises his power confidently.    It's easy to understand how C would want to emulate him.   Then again, C's father is a good man who does things the right way and if C emulated him, it wouldn't be such a bad idea.   Plus, he would likely avoid trouble,

A Bronx Tale captures a strong sense of time and place with its look at the 1960's Bronx.    The story centers more on C making wise choices with support from both his father and Sonny.   Both men love him and want to help him.    Sonny isn't using C or leading him down a sure path to hell.  In a way, C is the son he never had.    Sonny's father is frustrated by his perception that he is losing his son, but an insightful line of dialogue Dad tells Sonny near the end puts his feelings into perspective.    Both men have C's best interests in mind, despite going about the rest of their lives in much different ways. 

Sometimes movies don't click right away.   Expectations are different and it occasionally takes a viewing or more to understand and enjoy what is being presented.    Now that I think of it, I'd rather not see a story of two men fighting over a teenager's soul.     I find A Bronx Tale to be a strong example of a teenager who was able to make something of himself thanks to two very positive authority figures in his life.    Some kids are lucky even to have one.