Simply A Masterpiece

A Surprisingly Unforgettable Movie!

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

The Public Eye, is one of many movies advertised with it's poster up, yet avoided a cinema release. It's one film, you don't want to avoid. Pesci plays an avid cameraman, Bernzy, who's always first on the scene to flash his camera, yet plays a very lonely type, who on his latest shoot, gets involved with a woman, Hershey, who implores him to find out who killed her husband, where soon, he's in over his head, with some high up, corrupt and powerful dudes, coming after him. After all, it is 1940, and the backdrops are awesome, where this little gem of a drama, offers a lot of color and taste, and it's great to see Pesci, a so underused actor (nothing can top his performance in Goodfellas) steer this one. Is he doing it all for her, cause he's smitten by her? Probably. Is she using him? Probably. But it is a cute little partnership, amidst some actions, yet again those 1940 backdrops are awesome. Sadly this movie is of course, one of those, that deserves much more recognition. If still able to spot it now, in the world of DVDS, or if by such a slight chance, you happen to spot it on sale on VHS. Buy it. I guarantee you'll be glad you did. Watch for Australia's Nick Tate in a cameo.

The Public EyeBefore snapping the shot, the key to hip crime photography is ensuring the victim is wearing Ray-Bans.In the 1940s, however, fatalities had to be photographed wearing Bobby socks, like the ones in this crime-drama.Known for his inexplicable ability to be at a crime scene minutes after occurring, photographer Bernzy (Joe Pesci) makes his scratch selling snaps to the rags.One day a bar owner (Barbara Hershey) who claims she is being strong-armed by gangsters approaches Bernzy to find someone.Blinded by his infatuation with her, he agrees.But when that someone turns up dead, Bernzy becomes the prime suspect.Inspired by a real-life crime photography known for his prescient instinct, The Public Eye is a gritty film crime-noir with sharp dialogue, shadowy backdrops, and a suspenseful script.Incidentally, 1940s crime photographers make the worst fugitives since they always leave a trail of used flash bulbs in their wake.(Green Light)vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

I am so used to seeing Joe Pesci as a mobster (Goodfellas, Casino, Once Upon a Time in America) that I never imagined him in any other role. Well, he certainly surprised me in this noir film as a photographer who took great pride in his work and never let his feeling get in the way - until this one time, and it almost cost him his life.Pesci was outstanding as the lonely photographer who imagined he could have a relationship with the gorgeous Barbara Hershey (The Portrait of a Lady, A World Apart, The Last Temptation of Christ). He trusted and had his heart ripped out. Isn't that usually the case! This is not a great film (written & directed by Howard Franklin), but it was entertaining to see another side of Pesci. Great work also by Stanley Tucci.

The Public Eye was an attempt to elevate Joe Pesci to star status from respected character actor in the wake of his acclaimed Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas. Though Pesci did give a great performance in the film, the public was not prepared to buy him as leading man status.The film is really Pesci's show in that there are no really developed characters outside of his in the film. However Robert Zemeckis really did a bang up job in creating the mood and atmosphere of the early 1940s with America just going into World War II.With the USA engaged in the 'war on terror' and no demands being made for civilian sacrifice, it is probably somewhat vague for people who are not our most senior citizens to realize what was being attempted. And curiously enough though the racket that is being investigated is gasoline rationing.Joe Pesci is an independent photo journalist who with police scanner always on is first on the scene for every event in town. He gets asked by this glamorous socialite, Barbara Hershey, who normally wouldn't go near someone like him to check out an acquaintance. The acquaintance is found dead by Pesci and that leads him into a racket involving collusion between gangsters and government employees of the Office of Price Administration to control gasoline with stolen ration cards.Back in that war food and other commodities like gasoline were rationed to the civilian public and the price strictly controlled. This was serious business indeed for those times.Pesci also fancies himself an artist, not just a paparazzi, he sees himself as a Matthew Brady or an Ansel Adams, a recorder of his times and his city. That vain but artistic streak leads him to take some real chances.The Public Eye is a good throwback film to the forties. I can see had this been made post World War II a grown up Mickey Rooney playing Pesci's role.