Sorry, this movie sucks

Boring

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

While The Freshman had some qualities in common with bigger crime films, it took a very different spin on old standards. Where most crime movies focus on dark themes and serious, sometimes violent social issues, The Freshman focused on the humor in difficult and strange situations. In the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Matthew Broderick in the role of Clark Kellogg. His stepfather, Dwight, is a pro- animal and environmental extremist, the definition of a tree hugger. After years of humiliation at the hands of his stepfather, young Clark has no qualms about leaving his home to start school in New York. However, during his first day in the big city, he is scammed out of all his money and schoolbooks.In order to re-earn the money required to remain in his classes, Clark decides to attend a suspicious interview with a potential employer, Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando.) Clark decides to accept the offer of a flexible job with few hours and big money. He is not terribly worried about the situation- until he finds out his first job is to transport an endangered kimono dragon (How will his stepfather feel about that?). While I liked the movie, In terms of plot, this film fell short: it was pretty clichéd, and story elements were typical of other gangster films. Contemporary audiences will not be surprised when Kellogg is roped into the crime gang and works his way to the top, because we saw the same thing happen in The Godfather, with Michael Corleone. Plot line aside, this film is very enjoyable. It is an encounter of the blurred kind, an adventure as crazy and as unexpected as it can get. Despite occasional plot clichés and fixes, it's a brilliantly told tale. It really nails its comedic angle; it seizes you in its first seconds, captivates you for two short hours and leaves you feeling a little happier than before.

"The Freshman" (1990) stars Matthew Broderick as a freshman film school student in New York City. Desperate for money, he's hired by the local Godfather-type who just so happens to look and act exactly like Vito Corleone from the famous '72 Coppola film, probably because the character is played by the inimitable Marlon Brando. Penelope Ann Miller plays the daughter of the Mafia don, Bruno Kirby a fast-talking con and Maximilian Schell a curious chef of exotic foods. This is a unique crime dramedy, which I found okay on my initial viewing, but liked better on my second, probably because I utilized the subtitles and could make out Brando's mumbling dialogue. Broderick was still in his 20s and shines as the wide-eyed protagonist, but Brando naturally steals the show. It's not great, but it's amusing enough and wins points for its peculiarities, like the komodo dragon. The film runs 102 minutes and was shot in New York City and Ontario. GRADE: B

How many actors could have parodied their most classic roles without falling into the caricature? Think about it: while it takes a certain talent to make a performance that elevates a character to a legendary status, overplaying enough to make it comical but never over the top is the ultimate proof of acting genius. And only Marlon Brando could have got away with playing his most iconic character, the Godfather, and make it so damn believable. And it's this very seriousness in his performance, that makes "The Freshman" so delightful and naturally, hilarious.Although not a revolutionary, what makes "The Freshman" such a classic on its own is that it accomplishes a real miracle by resuscitating Vito Corleone, his name is Carmine Sabatini, but the movie can't fool us, the guy IS Vito Corleone. As explained in the film, Sabatini's the one who inspired Vito's character, in other words, "The Freshman" is so confident over its comical premise, and rightfully so, that it doesn't even hesitate to insert several references to "The Godfather". And these are not just gratuitous 'Godfather' references thrown away for the sake of it, it's important to know that it's not a parallel world where the movie isn't supposed to exist. On the contrary, not only it does, but whoever sees Carmine Sabatini, has the most natural reaction by immediately thinking of Vito Corleone. The movie, in a way, asks the question, how any of us would react in front of a movie character. How would I if I met my favorite character? I guess, probably like Clark Kellog, Matthew Broderick as a film college student, the titular "Freshman".And the deserved praises on Brando's performance shouldn't diminish Broderick's talent at all. With his awkward youngish look, Broderick is the perfect straight-man for a comical duo with Brando. Indeed, the comedic power of "The Freshman" relies on the extraordinary ability of Brando to play his character seriously in a non-serious film. Consequently, we don't laugh at Brando because he's too believable (we'd never treat him so disrespectfully), but at Broderick's disbelief. There's one part where Carmine offers a job to Clark, and gives him the hand of friendship as a solemn promise that no harm would happen to him. 'How can I say no?' replies Clark, to which Carmine dryly retorts 'that's not a yes, I want to hear yes', he takes a walnut from a prop and break it with his own hand, making a threatening sound. This improvisation, proving that Brando didn't lose his acting instinct and trademark use of props in movie scenes, provoked an even more genuine reaction from Broderick, who didn't know the walnut had already been broken before the shooting.Clark had no choice but say yes, after all, isn't Vito Corleone, the man who makes offers we can't refuse? The film's funniest moments are driven by Sabantini's aura and Clark's incapability to control the situation or to say 'no'. The script finds the perfect tone to show a guy screwed but in a way that inspires our sympathy without feeling antipathy toward Sabatini. And another triumph on the writing department is the way everything seems believable despite all the zany material it employs. Whether it's a picture of Mussolini in an Italian Social club, an espresso that takes three spoons of sugar, the Mona Lisa painting in Carmine's house, and a weird traffic involving a Komodo dragon, I wonder why I wanted to believe that, the first time I saw it. Maybe I was just a 10-year old kid who just laughed at the gags without looking too much deeper into it. The irony is that after watching 'The Godfather' so many times, I believed in Sabatini even more.That's not to say that it takes to be a 'Godfather' fan to enjoy the film, but it sure helps and not just for laughs. There is a heart in this film, and there is something very nostalgic, almost poignant to see Sabatini interacting with Clark. Sabatini is so sweet you'd forget he's a dangerous person. Brando finds the perfect note because he makes Sabatini lovable, while Vito was feared and respected, the way he treats Clark like the son he never had, his unexpected outburst of joy or sadness, his tender kisses or slaps in the face are all expression of a sincere love. Yes, we laugh when he never remembers Clark's hometown ("You're from Connecticut" he joyfully says, as if it meant something), when he calls him "Kent" instead of "Clark", or casually tells him that he'll marry his beautiful daughter Tina (Penelop Ann Mirren), but we still take him seriously because we never see when he's acting and when he's serious. And it doesn't really matter since in both cases, it's funny.But I make the film sound like the 'Brando' show, while it features a great cast of supporting characters, notably, Bruno Kirby as Vic the streetwise nephew who emphasizes the importance of every word said by his Carmine. Maximilan Schells steals the show as a demented German chef. You would probably notice Frank Whaley, the 'what?' man from "Pulp Fiction" as Clark's slick roommate. The film makes many references to "The Godfather" series, an apparent favorite of as Clark's teacher, the goofy monomaniacal Pr. Fleeber (Paul Benedict). Interestingly, the film was released the same year than the last opus of the trilogy, but I see it more as a coincidence, since the film is much more a reminder of how iconic the first two were."The Freshman" is still a delightful comedy, cleverly written, with the perfect dosage of verbal humor and slapstick, the journey featuring the Komodo dragon would be seen as an oddity considering the film's context, but it totally makes sense at the end. Eveyrthing brilliantly tie up at the end, even the weird affection between Sabatini and Kellon, the little spice that gives this film, its unique flavor ... with basil cream sauce.

i loved this movie when i saw it 15 years ago. & still just as funny.i especially loved "Mr.Miss America" Bert Parks singing the Dylan tune "Maggie's Farm" towards the end. the casting was great with Brodderick, Brando, & Bruno Kirby.the 1 discrepancy that i had was with the portrait of Mussolini. Il Dulce was adamantly anti-mafia. in FACT :::::: he was out to crush La Cosa Nostra. BUT >>>>>> because of attacks on U.S. docks in early WW II, the US gov. thru Navel Intelligence struck a deal with la Cosa Nostra, protect the maritime shipping docks via the unions & the Gov't would not only turn a blind eye to Mafia involvement in the unions, but also to vice & gambling rackets. as well as allow the division of the country by the 12 FAMILIES > as long as there were NO TURF WARS. even going so far as to leading them to launder their $$ thru defense contracts & entertainment corp's. Naval Intel Officer Anthony Marsloe met with Lucky Luciano & his attrny. Moses Polakoff to strike the deal. Lt. Charles Hoffendon & Joe "Socks" Lanza used the Fulton St. fish market & the United Seafood Workers Union to ensure that the US Docks would never be attacked after the Feb. 9th 1942 attack on the USS Normandy. then After the US "liberated" Sicicly & mainland Italy, AMGOT thru Col. Charles Poletti, Col. Phillip Corso, & the OSS 's Max Corvo, & Joseph Russo; Sicily was re-patriots by the la cosa nostra. ALL the main mayor-ships, & governesses were fulfilled by mobsters such as don Vito Genovese, & don Carlo Vitzini, as well as Calogero Vizzini, Salvatore Malta, & Genco Russo. after the 1942 US Govt. & mafia truce > there was NEVER another successful attack upon US ports thru-out WWII. AMGOT reinstated la cosa nostra into authority positions as mayors & regional governors thru out Sicily & Italy. & Lucky Luciano --for his help in organizing inter-mastering intel-- was exiled back to Sicily, where he lived out his years in heroic comfort, befitting an Allied Patriot.so a portrait of Mussolini would be anathema to their cause.other than that >>>>> a really great movie !!!!!!!!!!!!