Night and the City (1992, dir. Irwin Winkler)

Night and the City (1992, dir. Irwin Winkler)

What Is It?: Robert De Nero plays Harry Fabian, an ambulence chasing lawyer-cum-boxing promoter in this remake of the Noir classic by Jules Dassin.

What About It?: Who knows what possessed veteran producer Winkler to try and update Dassin's work, but it's clear why De Nero was drawn to it. The sharply delineated character -- the update was scripted by the redoubtable Richard Price -- is a motormouthed loser -- think Rupert Pupkin without the psychosis. Bobby had lost a lot of weight for Cape Fear, and you can still see it in this film, in his gaunt face, looking the semi-charming nebbish of the part. Jack Warden plays an ex-boxer with such an alarming physicality that we nearly didn't recognize him. Really amazing.

Why Should I See It?: It's really only a must for De Nero fans, though the story pops along at a Noir-lite pace pleasantly enough. Winkler has no idea what he wants to do visually, which is unfortunate -- he finds some fine sets and he works with the actors really well -- the poster above is the most pitched thing about the flick and that's just too bad.

What Else Is It Like?: Kiss of Death, Romeo is Bleeding, The Good Thief.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 2/1/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: The Birds, Blue Sky, Bright Future, Cabin in the Sky, Much Ado About Nothing, On the Beach, Only You, The Survivors.