Rob the Mob: True Crime, True Love, True Story

Don Steinberg at the Wall Street Journal offers a piece on a new film about organized crime called Rob the Mob.

"Rob the Mob," the latest film from director Raymond De Felitta, shares certain key traits with his prior movies. It is based in a blue-collar neighborhood of a New York borough. It features a lively script and fleshed-out characters who explode with heart, played by surprisingly recognizable actors for an indie film (including Andy Garcia and Ray Romano). And it's destined to be severely underappreciated. 

... Set in 1992 and based on a true story, "Rob the Mob" tells of a young Queens couple who become a working-class Bonnie and Clyde. Tommy (Michael Pitt of "Boardwalk Empire") is an ex-con without a plan until he discovers, by watching the trial of mobster John Gotti, that in mafia social clubs they don't keep any guns on the premises. He figures they're ripe for robbery and gets himself an Uzi. Exacting revenge on the kind of wiseguys who harassed his father is a bonus. Nina Arianda, a Tony-Award winner who played the sassy secretary in the movie "Win Win," steals scenes as Tommy's devoted girlfriend and accomplice. Their crime spree attracts the attention of a newspaperman (Mr. Romano), a philosophical mob boss (Mr. Garcia), and the FBI.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303725404579461292851154288?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303725404579461292851154288.html

You can also watch the film's trailer via the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQR2sEdqBDk

Note: I look forward to seeing the film. Good cast with Andy Garcia, Michael Rispoli, Burt Young, Ray Romano and others. I also enjoyed director Raymond De Felitta's earlier film, City Island.

Philadelphia Boxing Legend Joe Frazier Dies

Smokin' Joe Frazier, one of the greatest fighters in boxing history, died at age 67.

I was serving on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam in 1971 when Frazier fought his epic battle against Muhammad Ali. We listened to the fight over the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Most of the guys were for Ali, especially the black guys. I backed Frazier and I took on all bets. I won a good deal of money that day. It was also good that several die-hard Ali fans had to admit that I was right about Frazier.  

I later met Joe Frazier at his gym in Philadelphia. I recall that he was gracious and friendly. 

Joe Frazier was a great fighter, but more importantly, he seemed to be a good man.

He inspired a good number of young fighters and he was a hero to a good number of fight fans. He will be missed and he will be remembered.

Don Steinberg wrote a good piece on Frazier's life for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Mr. Frazier, known as "Smokin' Joe," was small for a heavyweight, just under 6 feet tall, but compensated with a relentless attack in the ring, bobbing and weaving as if his upper body were on a tightly coiled spring, constantly moving forward, and throwing more punches than most heavyweights.

"A kind of motorized Marciano" is how Time magazine described his style in a 1971 cover story before Mr. Frazier's $5 million fight with Muhammad Ali, the first of their three epic battles and the most lucrative boxing match ever at the time.

Fans could watch Mr. Frazier fight for minutes at a time and not see him take one step back.

You can read the rest of the story at Philly.com via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/133414573.html?cmpid=15585797