Find Me Guilty
Vin Diesel stars in this Sidney Lumet vehicle as the fun-loving, big-hearted mobster, Jackie DiNorscio. In the late eighties, twenty members of the Lucchese crime clan in New Jersey were brought to trial on multiple criminal charges. One family member, DiNorscio, was already in the middle of serving decades in prison for drug charges but is tagged along with the family for these new charges.
The aging, slightly tubby, balding, but nevertheless suave DiNorscio, played surprisingly well by Diesel, decides that he will defend himself in the trial when the District Attorney's office insults him with a reduced sentence in exchange for the ratting out of his cohorts. Instead of just sticking with his indignant "Jackie Dee don't rat!" and leaving it at that, Di Norscio takes the obvious next step (insert sarcasm here) and chooses to defend himself in the trial.
I guess I can't really be too cynical about DiNorscio's choice to defend himself since this incident, based on true events from the longest running mafia trial ever, actually happened. If this hadn't really happened, a Hollywood story about a loveable mobster defending himself in court is a bit, well, 'My Cousin Vinnie' except more implausible since DiNorscio has only a sixth grade education and, at least, Vinnie actually went to law school.
One would expect the natural progression of the story to transpire as it does. Of course DiNorscio is a bit rough around the edges as he attempts to figure out the etiquette of the legal system. Of course he has a few run-ins with the judge along the way. And, of course, he ultimately ends up wily wooing the courtroom with his amusing antics and capricious charm. Standard fare.
Although there are occasional chuckles peppered throughout, there is nothing that really makes this film stand out further than your average made-for-TV movie except for the shock in witnessing Diesel perform his role so well. Vin Diesel is actually versatile! Who knew? This fact is a definite redemption for Find Me Guilty, but the film is still guilty as charged: a run-of-the-mill film overrun with typecasting and little else.
Grades
Overall: C+
Story: C
Acting: B
Visuals: C
Originality/Innovation: B
Enjoyability: B+
DVD/Extras: C
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