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Released by: Synapse Films
Released on: 6/29/2004
Director: John A. Gallagher
Cast: Michael Imperioli, Mike Starr, Matt Keesler, Judith Malina, Heavy D, Ice-T, Gretchen Mol, Michael Badalucco
Year: 1997
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The Movie:
Co-writer/director John Gallagher's The Deli is the story of Johnny Amico (Mike Starr of Goodfellas), a deli owner who's addicted to gambling. Every week he plays the same numbers in the local lottery for his mother. Week in, week out his mother gives him the money to put on her numbers and week in, week out she doesn't win. Then of course, the one week he doesn't play them for her (even though she did give him the money to do it), her numbers come up. Now Johnny has to scramble to come up with the prize money.
What results is a reasonably amusing comedy that isn't laugh out loud pee your pants funny, but isn't terrible either. Most of the charm lies in the cameos (look for rappers Heavy-D and Ice-T as well as a few cast members from The Sopranos wandering around in a few scenes) but the film does have some legitimately funny moments to its credit. Just try to ignore some of the Kevin Smith style dialogue that is now kind of cliché among independent comedies and you should be ok.
There are a lot of stereotypical New Yorkers of Italian decent on parade here and that does get a little tiresome sometimes because we've seen it done before and we've seen it done better. It's also hard to feel sorry for Johnny after he gambles his mothers money, but by and large it's a cute little film that gets the majority of it right. Mike Starr does a pretty good job in the lead and makes him a believable character even if he's not the most sympathetic lout we've come across before. Thankfully he doesn't resort to 'badda bing badda boom' style dialogue or other tired Italian/American posturing.
Gallagher makes sure that the movie looks pretty decent as he captures a nice feel for outer New York City. The camera moves smoothly and gently throughout and the picture is framed well enough that, while it's not going to win 'Best Cinematography' at the Oscars, it is at least a moderately well directed and well made film.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Synapse has done their usual great job on this transfer, presenting the film in its original aspect ratio of 1.78.1 and enhanced for 16x9 television sets. Colors are nice and solid and the picture is very clean looking. There is some mild print damage and grain but it doesn't stand out much at all. Black levels remain constant and deep and don't break up at all, while fleshtones look natural and lifelike. For a low budget independent film, The Deli looks really, really nice.
The film is presented in a clean and clear Dolby Digital Mono English track. With the film being almost entirely dialogue driven, mono works just fine here. Some more distinct channel separation would have maybe enhanced the atmosphere a little bit, but if it was made in mono and it's hitting DVD in mono, that seems only fair and the track we're given is just fine without and audible defects.
Synapse has rounded up John Gallagher who supplies a full-length director's commentary track over the film. Those interested in the trials and tribulations of making low budget films and working with sometimes difficult actors should dig this track as it's funny and interesting at the same time. There are also a few deleted scenes included on the DVD (that were probably cut for pacing reasons) that are fun to see included here as well. Finally, Gallagher has contributed three mini-essays in the hard copy liner notes found as an insert in the disc. The Deli is a general overview of the film, Selling The Deli takes a look at how the film got made, and Ice-T And Me focuses on working with Ice-T.
The Final Word:
The Deli is a good-natured comedy that's good for quite a few laughs. It's been treated well on DVD from Synapse and while it's not a classic, it's worth a look.