But you should care about this classic. This movie passes all the tests. Except the Mario test.

Based on Chazz Paliminteri's autobiographical one-man play, "A Bronx Tale" is an impressive coming-of-age story about a young man, Calogero, or "C," as he is called, growing up in an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx during the racially turbulent Sixties who is torn between the ethical standards set by his scrupulously honest bus driver father, Lorenzo, and the flashy appeal of "Sonny," the charismatic local crime boss. When Calogero, as a mere child, witnesses Sonny shoot and kill a man in a street dispute and refuses to pick him out of a hastily organized lineup moments later, Sonny takes the boy under his wing, much to the displeasure of his father. In his own way, Sonny is looking out for the young man's best interests. He is both paternal and protective, urging C to stop hanging out with his troublemaking friends, who he derisively calls "jerk-offs," and emphasizing the importance of a good education. He also tutors him in the ways of the street. "That way," says C, "I'll be twice as smart as everyone else." Eventually there is a heated confrontation between the boy's father and the gangster, but the lure of Sonny's lifestyle - a flashy red Cadilac, women, nice clothes, "respect" - is too strong for the youngster to resist. There is an interesting assortment of supporting characters - Eddie Mush (the unluckiest gambler in the world), Tony Toupee (so called because of his ill-fitting hairpiece), Frankie Coffee Cake (whose acne-scarred face reminded everyone of a Drake's coffee cake) - and a host of others who apparently made an indelible impression on the young Palminteri. There are several memorable scenes - the humorous antics during a basement craps game; the invasion of Sonny's bar by a gang of bikers, to their regret; Sonny's advising his protege on dating etiquette. Robert De Niro, in his directorial debut, plays Lorenzo, but it is Chazz Palminteri's Sonny who dominates the film throughout. The ending is sad, poignant, and touching, but of course I won't go into that here on the assumption that you haven't seen this movie. As a lay person I'm unable to intelligently critique the technical aspects of any film, but I can state in all honesty that this is one movie I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

This is a film that I can watch a kazillion times and still not get enough. Chazz Palminteri is one of the scariest actors in gangster history. However, his insight into the world that he was born in was touching. Robert De Niro shines as a frustrated father trying to save his son from the streets.

Well acted, great local scenes of The Bronx, plausible. Good story. De Niro is fantastic in a different sort of role as a hard working, earnest, honest bus driver just trying to show his son a decent way to live. Parmentieri is fantastic as the local crime boss-very believable.

Deals with good/bad themes, easy money vs.integrity & hard work, racism & racial clashes in the paradigm of The Bronx.

Great musical score.

A Bronx Tale is a story of Chazz Palmentari's life as a kid in the Bronx. 9 year old Cologerlo lives in an apartment. He rides the bus route with his farther every day. He usually sits on his stoop with his 2 best friends Slick and Mario. Even though he loves talking with his friends he also loves trying to imitate Sunny (Chazz Palmentari). Sunny is a local gang member that hangs out at the bar 2 doors down. Even though Cologerlo always imitated him Sunny never looked at him, until one day. Cologerlo was sitting on his stoop when 2 cars pull-up to the same parking space. They start to exchange angry words when one guy gets out of the car and starts beating him with a baseball bat, until Sunny shoots him dead. Cologerlo witness everything. His farther takes him upstairs and quicker than you can say uh the police where at his door. The police knew he saw everything so they take him downstairs outside. The whole neighbor is watching. There are 7 men lined up on the corner. The police man asks did this guy do it and he says no. They through the list, but when they get to Sunny the church bells rings. The police man asks did he do it. Cologerlo looks at his father then at sunny, and then says no. After that Cologerlo life changes. He starts to get respect and all because of Sunny.