'Romeo Is Bleeding' has gone under a bit of renaissance since it was released in 1993. Back then critics and audiences appreciated the acting if nothing else while the movie didn't fare that well. Now a very vocal contingent want to tell you it's the greatest thing ever. I say question whenever it's because of the film's over the top moments or a widely known fact these days Gary Oldman is a great actor.
Jack Grimaldi (Oldman) is a corrupt NY detective working for the mob. He's also playing a balancing act between good natured wife Natalie (Annabella Sciorra) & young mistress Sheri (Juliette Lewis). The last illicit money he received was for him to finger the location where revered hitwoman Mona Demarkov (Lena Olin) was being held so they could take her out. When it goes sideways, he has to appease Don Falcone (Roy Scheider) then finds himself climbing into bed with the assassin herself as he circles the drain of greed, sex & deceit.
You get some faces in the supporting cast. Will Patton, David Proval (Sopranos, UHF) & James Cromwell as police. Michael Wincott plays a mobster. There's an uncredited appearance from Dennis Farina and even Ron Perlman shows up. However this is really Oldman & Olin's show. The depths of the insanity both go to is bonkers. Sciorra isn't able to do much other than be symbolism for good while Lewis unfortunately doesn't rate much at all.
1994 was a great year for Gary Oldman. 'Leon: The Professional' came out and 'Romeo Is Bleeding' hit home video. The man developed a taste for going quite "out there" and being brilliant doing so. That's my take. This is an entertaining movie. Features some great acting, but it's not the epic that everyone is making it out to be these days.
Jack Grimaldi (Oldman) is a corrupt NY detective working for the mob. He's also playing a balancing act between good natured wife Natalie (Annabella Sciorra) & young mistress Sheri (Juliette Lewis). The last illicit money he received was for him to finger the location where revered hitwoman Mona Demarkov (Lena Olin) was being held so they could take her out. When it goes sideways, he has to appease Don Falcone (Roy Scheider) then finds himself climbing into bed with the assassin herself as he circles the drain of greed, sex & deceit.
You get some faces in the supporting cast. Will Patton, David Proval (Sopranos, UHF) & James Cromwell as police. Michael Wincott plays a mobster. There's an uncredited appearance from Dennis Farina and even Ron Perlman shows up. However this is really Oldman & Olin's show. The depths of the insanity both go to is bonkers. Sciorra isn't able to do much other than be symbolism for good while Lewis unfortunately doesn't rate much at all.
1994 was a great year for Gary Oldman. 'Leon: The Professional' came out and 'Romeo Is Bleeding' hit home video. The man developed a taste for going quite "out there" and being brilliant doing so. That's my take. This is an entertaining movie. Features some great acting, but it's not the epic that everyone is making it out to be these days.