The Funeral (1996)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

1 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

One family, one murder, too many lies.

Plot:

New York City, the 1930s. A powerful crime family is caught in a lethal crossfire between union organizers and brutal corporate bosses...

Plot Keywords:

Violence | 1930s | Murder | Rape | Marital Abuse

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Ray Tempio
Chris Penn	...	Chez Tempio
Annabella Sciorra	...	Jean
Isabella Rossellini	...	Clara Tempio
Vincent Gallo	...	Johnny
Benicio Del Toro	...	Gaspare
Gretchen Mol	...	Helen
John Ventimiglia	...	Sali
Paul Hipp	...	Ghouly
Victor Argo	...	Julius
Gian DiDonna	...	Ray Sr. (as Gian Di Donna)
Dmitri Prachenko	...	Sentieri (as Dmitry Prachenko)
Paul Perri	...	Young Ray
Gregory Perrelli	...	Young Chez
Joey Hannon	...	Middle Chez
Robert Miano	...	Enrico
Frank John Hughes	...	Bacco
Andrew Fiscella	...	Murder Witness
Anthony Alessandro	...	Doctor
Robert W. Castle	...	Priest (as Robert Castle)
Santo Fazio	...	Undertaker
Daniel Scarpa	...	Kid
Nicholas De Cegli	...	Victor (as Nicholas DeCegli)
Amber Smith	...	Bridgette
Edie Falco	...	Union Speaker
David Patrick Kelly	...	Michael Stein
Carrie Szlasa	...	Fox (as Carrie Slaza)
Phil Neilson	...	Billy
Patrick McGaw	...	The Mechanic
Lance Guecia	...	Flashback Victim
Douglas Crosby	...	The Florist (as Doug Crosby)
Ida Bernardini	...	Aunt Rosa (as Ida Bernadini)
John Hoyt	...	Big John
John 'Cha Cha' Ciarcia	...	Cha Cha
Heather Bracken	...	Liz
Frankie Cee	...	Bartender Frank (as Frank Cee)
Chuck Zito	...	Zito
Mia Babalis	...	Mia
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lori Eastside	...	Party dancer (uncredited)
Joseph R. Gannascoli	...	Rocco (uncredited)

Directed by
Abel Ferrara

Writing credits (WGA)
Nicholas St. John		(written by)

Produced by
Jay Cannold	....	associate producer
Michael Chambers	....	executive producer
Mary Kane	....	producer
Patrick Panzarella	....	executive producer
Randy Sabusawa	....	co-producer (as Randall Sabusawa)
Annabella Sciorra	....	associate producer
Russell Simmons	....	associate producer
Margot Lulick	....	line producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Joe Delia

Cinematography by
Ken Kelsch

Film Editing by
Mayin Lo
Jim Mol		(co-editor)
Bill Pankow

Casting by
Ann Goulder

Production Design by
Charles M. Lagola

Art Direction by
Beth Curtis

Set Decoration by
Diane Lederman

Costume Design by
Melinda Eshelman

Makeup Department
Patricia Regan	....	makeup artist
Nancy Tong	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jay Cannold	....	production supervisor
Mary Kane	....	production manager
Jasmine Kosovic	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laura Cercone Fiorino	....	second second assistant director (as Laura Cerone Fiorino)
Noga Isackson	....	first assistant director
Jenny Peek	....	dga trainee
Chris Surgent	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Suzanne E. Cestare	....	second property master (as Suzanne Cestare)
Hallie Coletto	....	scenic
Frank DeCurtis	....	on-set dresser
Guido DeCurtis	....	lead man
Robert Dillon	....	key carpenter
Douglas Fecht	....	set dresser
Stephanie Ferrante	....	art department coordinator
David Greenhouse	....	scenic
Claude Horstmann	....	foreman
Mark Horstmann	....	construction coordinator
Ross Huttick	....	set dresser
Paul Loret	....	second construction grip
Christine Moosher	....	buyer
Ed Newins Jr.	....	key construction grip (as Edward Newins Jr.)
Stanley Pasay	....	camera scenic artist
Jon Ringbom	....	charge scenic
Amy Safhay	....	greensperson
Eric Stepper	....	property master
Greg Sullivan	....	scenic
Harriet Zucker	....	prop shopper
Daniel Kimmel	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Patricia Brolsma	....	boom operator
Jason Canovas	....	dialogue editor
Rosa Howell-Thornhill	....	sound mixer
Kathleen King	....	boom operator
Karen McMullen	....	assistant sound editor (as Karen McMullen Homer)
Todd Miller	....	sound effects editor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Greg Sheldon	....	supervising sound editor
Wyatt Sprague	....	apprentice sound editor
Jeffrey Stern	....	dialogue editor
Mel Zelniker	....	sound re-recording engineer (as Mel J. Zelniker)

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunts
Carl Paoli	....	stunt double: Christopher Walken (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Maria Calvaruso	....	second assistant camera
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Joe Donohue III	....	best boy grip (as Joseph G. Donohue III)
Andrea Dorman	....	first assistant camera
Steve Drellich	....	camera operator
Samuel G. Friedman	....	electrician (as Samuel Friedman)
Jim Galvin	....	electrician
Pedro Hernández	....	rigging grip (as Pedro Hernandez)
Eric M. Klein	....	grip (as Eric Klein)
Robert Kummert	....	key grip (as Bob Kummert)
John Paul McIntyre	....	dolly grip (as Jack McIntyre)
Charlie McNamara	....	gaffer (as Charles McNamara)
Linda Phillips	....	electrician
Larry Steinberg	....	grip
Jennifer Stuart	....	camera trainee
Phil Testa	....	best boy
Stephen Treadway	....	second assistant camera
Robert Vuolo	....	electrician (as Rob Vuolo)

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dorit Avnir	....	costume assistant
Joseph Cesarelli	....	additional wardrobe
Diane Collins	....	wardrobe assistant
John Corbo	....	set costumer
Beth Lincks	....	additional set costumer (as Beth Links)
Thomas Stokes	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Tom Stokes)
Ruthie Tanami	....	wardrobe assistant
Alana West	....	additional wardrobe

Editorial Department
Patricia Bowers	....	associate editor (as Trissy Bowers)
Pamela Chmiel	....	assistant editor (as Pam Chmiel)
Kenna Doeringer	....	first assistant editor
Jamal El-Amin	....	apprentice editor
Tony Grocki	....	assistant editor (as Anthony Grocki)
Marla Hanson	....	editor: video
Kent McGrew	....	color timer
Robin Quinn	....	post-production intern
Todd Woody Richman	....	apprentice editor (as T. Woody Richman)
Nick Smith	....	apprentice editor
Greg Speed	....	second assistant editor
Suzanne Ceresko	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Burrelle	....	musician: Chez Lounge band
Joe Delia	....	musician: Chez Lounge band
James Flatto	....	music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music consultant
Jim Mol	....	music creative consultant
Jon Sigel	....	musician: Chez Lounge Band (as Jonathan Sigel)
Ron Thomas	....	musician: Chez Lounge band

Transportation Department
David Babcock	....	driver (as David Jay Babcock)
Ryan Boyd	....	driver
Irv Gooch	....	picture vehicles (as Irv Gouch)
Dennis Kelly	....	driver
Louis Volpe	....	transportation captain (as Lou 'Sonny' Volpe)

Other crew
Karen Barber	....	assistant to director
Leonard John Bruno	....	product placement (as Leonard Bruno)
Leonard John Bruno	....	promotions (as Leonard Bruno)
James 'Morris' Byrnes	....	set production assistant
Jim Carden	....	assistant accountant
Maya Churi	....	assistant to director
Juliet D'Annibale	....	assistant production coordinator
Lori Eastside	....	choreographer
Laura Franses	....	location assistant
David Furher	....	video consultant
Kevin Greene	....	production accountant
Kathy Grissom	....	location intern
Sebastian Hoschirl	....	location intern
Charles Houston	....	parking assistant
Mary Jackson	....	assistant to producer
Jay Julien	....	legal consultant
Karen Kelsall	....	script supervisor
Carl Kelsch	....	office production assistant
Daniel Kimmel	....	script intern
Kevin Kolovich	....	office production assistant
Mary Lugo	....	unit publicist
Jonathan Manzo	....	assistant location manager
John Paul McIntyre	....	creative consultant (as Jack McIntyre)
Frank McKenna	....	craft service
Michael McKenna	....	craft service (as Mike McKenna)
Jim Mol	....	picture creative consultant
Pernilla Nelson	....	office production intern
Michael Nickodem	....	location manager
Natile Orango	....	location intern
Olivia Pi-Sunyer	....	production coordinator
Douglas Plasse	....	set production assistant (as Doug Plasse)
Roger Rawlings	....	office production assistant
Lynn Reich	....	set production assistant
Holly S. Rymon	....	assistant accountant (as Holly Rymon)
Jean Sassine	....	parking coordinator
John Shaw	....	set production assistant
Eric Shonz	....	insurance broker
Dena Silberstein	....	product placement
Dena Silberstein	....	promotions
Dan Soloman	....	location intern
Joseph Stephans	....	location assistant
Richard Suffern	....	office production assistant
Teresita Tan	....	assistant accountant (as Teresita P. Tan)
Matt Whitcher	....	location assistant
Donna L. Bascom	....	legal consultant (uncredited)
Dave Brown	....	hat maker (uncredited)
Judy Sharinger	....	legal delivery supervisor (uncredited)
Rick Washburn	....	weapons coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Dianne E. Collins	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• C&P Productions
• MDP Worldwide
• October Films

Distributors

• Atlantis Entertainment (1997) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Concorde Film (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Arcade Movie Company (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cipa (France)
• Crazy Turkey Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Europa Carat (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Guild (UK)
• Imperial Entertainment
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• October Films
• TriPictures (Spain)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)

Other Companies

• 24/7 Food Inc.  catering
• Clein & White  unit publicity
• Film Finance  completion guarantee
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance
• Independent Digital Media  d-vision
• La Violette Fancy Foods Inc.  catering
• Meals on Reels  catering
• N&D Film and Video  negative matching
• Panavision New Zealand  camera equipment provided by
• Propriete Prince Sound  music recorded and mixed at
• REI Media Group  titles and opticals
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording engineering
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

MPAA:

Rated R for strong crude sex scenes, strong violence and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

C&P Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Johnny is dead in his coffin, his neat hair becomes messy between shots.

Quotes:

Jean: They're criminals, and there's absolutely nothing romantic about it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nel cuore della notte (2002)

Soundtrack:

Addio Amata Mia

Bury Our Sins?

The Funeral is a dark and gritty story that plumbs the characters in a New York band of criminal brothers. It doesn't have the romantic sweep of a Godfather movie, nor the rawness of Scarface. But it does have great acting: the cold, sinister aloofness of the leader-brother(Christopher Walken); the raging insanity of the bartender-brother(Chris Penn); and, the cockiness of the younger communist-influenced brother. Annabella Scioria as the wife with a tortured psyche who "had two years of college", and Bennissio del Toro, as the suave and slick rival mobster round out the terrific cast.

But the movie does have some problems. The abrupt, "surprise" ending is consistent with the arcs in the movie, and is supported by trends in the characters' developments, but seems unsatisfying. Also, long philosophical conversations between killer and victims seems unrealistic. While these conversations(and flashback sequences) give insight into characters, it just doesn't seem likely.

Watch this movie if you are a fan of crime/Mafia films, and you can enjoy a thoughtful introspection of characters and relationships between characters. Don't watch it if you want to see a "thrill-a-minute", or explosions every other scene.