6 thoughts on “Moviedrome Mondays: Funny Bones (1995) (Mark Cousins intro)”

1. I haven’t seen this film so I can’t say anything about it. I’m diverting with this post. Fellow writers, please excuse this. Continue talking about this Moviedrome film.

   John, I’m pleased you saw greatness in the shortened version of Blood Ties. The shortened version does have greatness but the four hour miniseries version is much better and is truly great. The direction, script, acting and score are all great. I’d like to hear your opinion on the four hour version when you’ve watched it. It’s on youtube in three parts under the name Il Cugino Americano.

   Did you have any favourite scenes? I liked the scene where Vincent Spano gives Brad Davis a gun and tells him to kill the judge with it and Brad says if he does that he’ll only be whacked too after it. He then points the gun at Spano. That was a tense, well written and well acted scene. I also like the scene where Brad and Spano have a heated exchange on a beach. I think that’s a great scene too.

   I agree with you on Vincent Spano’s performance as Mark Ciuni. He was truly great and stole the show. This has to be his best performance. He’s so intense and gives a Pacinoesque performance. He did a superb job and dominated the film. Judging by videos and interviews, it looks like Vincent Spano is a nice guy in real life so that makes his performance of the psychotic Ciuni even more impressive.

   I don’t know why Vincent Spano hasn’t had a better career. He’s worked constantly but he hasn’t been in that many good movies. A lot of the movies he’s been in have been forgettable. I think he’s an underrated actor and he really showed what he’s capable of in Blood Ties.

   He has a great video paying tribute to Italy on youtube. I recommend that video. It only lasts a minute and a half. Type in ‘Vincent Spano Tribute To Italy’ and you’ll find it. What do you think of that video? I agree with everything he says in it.

   Brad Davis also gives a great performance in Blood Ties. He was a great protagonist. He was likeable and you were totally rooting for him and on his side. He also did a great job. Brad Davis was a great actor. He gave an incredible performance in Midnight Express. He gave one of the greatest performances in movie history in that film. It should have established him for a great movie career but unfortunately he battled substance abuse then. He got clean and sober and stayed clean and sober for the rest of his life but his movie career stalled and was mostly working in TV. He tragically died too young. It’s sad. Brad Davis was a great talent but it’s a case of What Could Have Been. Rest In Peace, Brad.

   There’s three Godfather actors in Blood Ties. I’m sure you knew Gazzo and Spinell. It is so cool to see Frankie Pentangeli and Willi Cicci onscreen together again. They were both great actors. Joe Spinell’s acting is great at 21.56 of the short version where he tells Gazzo he doesn’t want to have to kill him.

   The other actor is Angelo Infanti. He was the treacherous bodyguard in Sicily. He played Vincent Spano’s brother in Blood Ties and he was also the villain in Highway Racer so he’s a good actor.

2. I never watched this film as I cannot stand Lee Evans. That once-popular comedian made a career here from copying Norman Wisdom in front of audiences who were probably too young to know the former huge star. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Wisdom I often wondered why Wisdom didn’t take Evans to court for plagiarising his act.
   Best wishes, Pete.

3. I haven’t seen this either, but it sounds lively and entertaining. One thing I can’t quite envision is Oliver Platt in a movie with Oliver Reed, lol. I don’t know why. Platt’s a pretty good actor. But Reed was on another level….?

4. Sorry for the late reply Steve 🙂 I have been busy this week, but once Easter is over, I promise things will go back to normal and I will respond back sooner 🙂

   I shall catch up on the four hour version of Blood Ties because a lot of fans of the film have preferred that version including yourself 🙂

   What a coincidence 🙂 All of the scenes that you mention as your favorites are mine as well 🙂 I also love the drama between that family consisting of Brad Davis friend and his pregnant wife – you can truly understand why she does not want him to get involved given that at the very beginning their daughter suffered a violent death. I also love that black-haired woman – the one Spano (more or less) stole from that judge 🙂

   Vincent Spano totally stole the show – his Mark Ciuni could be labeled the son of Scarface in a metaphorical sense 🙂 I agree that it is a shame that Spano did not get more memorable films – just think how Abel Ferrara could have casted him 🙂

   Thank you for that wonderful video of Spano talking about Italy – I totally agree with him that it is the most beautiful place in Europe 🙂 As with myself, I bet you would love to live in some of the areas he talked about 🙂 Given that the video was uploaded in April of 2020, I am going to understand that it was Spano’s way of consoling Italy that they were going to get through the coronavirus when it was at it’s peak 🙂 Speaking of Abel Ferrara (given that last paragraph), I heard he resides in Italy now 🙂

   What more can be said about Brad Davis? 🙂 You summed up everything perfectly and yes, it is a shame that he died young 😦

   I am quite aware that Michael V. Gazzo and Joe Spinell were also in Godfather Part II 🙂 I also agree with your thoughts on that scene together with the two 🙂 Same with Angelo Infanti 🙂

   Once I am finished with my review of Je t’aime moi non plus, I will be revising my favorite Brian De Palma films blog entry to include Scarface and Carlito’s Way under the four star films 🙂 You must be jumping with joy at my reconsideration 🙂

5. Actually I always thought that Oliver Reed was entertaining, but I do agree with you that is antics off-screen were a little bit too rowdy 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂

6. Interesting info on Norman Wisdom there Pete 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂