Directed By: John Landis
Cast: Sylvester Stallone
Don Ameche
Yvonne DeCarlo
Ornella Muti
Marisa Tomei
Kirk Douglas
Peter Riegert
Chazz Palminteri
Joey Travolta
Vincent Spano

Released: 1991
Rated PG: for language, sexual content, mob themes.
109 minutes

OSCAR is a vehicle that realizes what a movie can do when the big-wigs (i.e. money idiots of Hollywood) let an actor be all that he can be! Sylvester Stallone, ably aided and abetted by an ensemble of cooky characters, gives us true comedic relief.

After a promise given on his father's (Douglas) deathbed, Angelo Provolone (Stallone), tries to leave his mob-boss antics to those in the Chicago streets during Prohibition. On his first day of 'going straight' he's to meet with bankers so he can become a director. Despite his efforts, his staff, the police, and his competitors don't believe he's changing his corrupt ways. So with a wide range of misunderstandings, black bag operations, and convincing arguements, the cast runs the gamut of comedy to pursue their own agenda.

The plot challenges any reviewer to render an even close facsimile of what happens next and in what order. There is so much happening before noon that the reviewer would stutter and stumble herself right out of the context.

But Stallone holds it together throughout the 109 minutes. His enthusiasm and integrity to the art is what must have happened behind the scenes when he lobbied for this kind of part. AND that's what you get when you watch him carry this role. He wisely lets the characters do their quirky thing, and bounces off with perpetual energy.

Here are some of the amazing characters supporting Stallone:

the frustrated daughter (Marisa Tomei);
the fussy Finucci brothers (Martin Ferrero, Harry Shearer);
the namby-pamby linguistics professor (Tim Curry);
the hustling accountant (Spano);
the prissy banker (Ken Howard);
the cynical bodyguard (Peter Riegert);
the ditzleweed bodyguard (Chazz Palminteri);
the confused wife (Ornella Muti);
the questioning priest (Don Ameche);
the over-zealous cop (Kirkwood Smith)

and a host of other caricatures melded evenly by Landis and stirred but not shaken by Stallone.

The critics didn't like this movie, but I haven't met a critic that I agreed with yet. (But that's an entirely different article). I would like to see more of Stallone flexing his comedic muscles. While I didn't care for 'Stop or My Mom Will Shoot', I found 'Rhinestone Cowboy' with Dolly Parton quite charming.

OSCAR has the witty writing, awesome acting, intelligent interaction of plot, and cooky comedy that would make the video/DVD a keeper for the library. It's in mine. Seeing it more than once is a given!