Brooklyn Rules
Encyclopedia
Brooklyn Rules is a 2007 film starring Alec Baldwin
, Scott Caan
, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jerry Ferrara
, and Mena Suvari
. The film was directed by Michael Corrente
and written by Terence Winter
.
. In contrast to Michael's desire to leave the Brooklyn streets behind, his close friend Carmine (Scott Caan
) is a handsome lady-killer who is enamored with the Mafia lifestyle and wants only to stay there. Rounding out the trio is Bobby (Jerry Ferrara
), an endearing cheapskate who longs for a simple life of working at the Post Office and settling down with his fiancee. While at Columbia, Michael falls for a beautiful young student named Ellen (Mena Suvari
), a society girl whom he initially wins over with his preppy schoolboy cover. As their relationship blossoms, leaving the streets behind seems increasingly possible, but when Carmine catches the eye of Caesar (Alec Baldwin
), a feared Gambino family
mobster who controls their neighborhood, Michael and Bobby are drawn into that world despite their reluctance to get involved.
tallied 18 positive and 20 negative reviews, resulting in an average rating of 47%. It noted that the movie's "premise is old hat now, but strong performances from Alec Baldwin and the supporting cast are reasons enough to watch." The film received an overall rating of 53 out of 100 from Metacritic
, based on 13 reviews.
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
, Scott Caan
Scott Caan
Scott Andrew Caan is an American actor. He stars in the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award. He is the son of actor James Caan.-Early life:...
, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jerry Ferrara
Jerry Ferrara
Jerry Ferrara is an American actor best known for his work as "Turtle" aka Sal on the HBO comedy series Entourage.-Biography:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ferrara attended New Utrecht High School. Ferrara is of Italian descent....
, and Mena Suvari
Mena Suvari
Mena Alexandra Suvari is an American actress, fashion designer, and model. Shortly after beginning her career as a model, she appeared in guest roles on 1990's television shows such as Boy Meets World and High Incident...
. The film was directed by Michael Corrente
Michael Corrente
Michael Corrente is an American film director and producer from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His films include A Shot at Glory, American Buffalo, Outside Providence, Brooklyn Rules and Federal Hill.-Biography:...
and written by Terence Winter
Terence Winter
Terence Winter is an American writer and producer of television and film. He is the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire...
.
Plot
Michael (Freddie Prinze Jr.), the narrator, is a lovable charmer with the soul of a con man who successfully scams his way into the pre-law program at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In contrast to Michael's desire to leave the Brooklyn streets behind, his close friend Carmine (Scott Caan
Scott Caan
Scott Andrew Caan is an American actor. He stars in the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award. He is the son of actor James Caan.-Early life:...
) is a handsome lady-killer who is enamored with the Mafia lifestyle and wants only to stay there. Rounding out the trio is Bobby (Jerry Ferrara
Jerry Ferrara
Jerry Ferrara is an American actor best known for his work as "Turtle" aka Sal on the HBO comedy series Entourage.-Biography:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ferrara attended New Utrecht High School. Ferrara is of Italian descent....
), an endearing cheapskate who longs for a simple life of working at the Post Office and settling down with his fiancee. While at Columbia, Michael falls for a beautiful young student named Ellen (Mena Suvari
Mena Suvari
Mena Alexandra Suvari is an American actress, fashion designer, and model. Shortly after beginning her career as a model, she appeared in guest roles on 1990's television shows such as Boy Meets World and High Incident...
), a society girl whom he initially wins over with his preppy schoolboy cover. As their relationship blossoms, leaving the streets behind seems increasingly possible, but when Carmine catches the eye of Caesar (Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
), a feared Gambino family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
mobster who controls their neighborhood, Michael and Bobby are drawn into that world despite their reluctance to get involved.
Cast
- Alec BaldwinAlec BaldwinAlexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
as Caesar - Freddie Prinze Jr. as Michael
- Scott CaanScott CaanScott Andrew Caan is an American actor. He stars in the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award. He is the son of actor James Caan.-Early life:...
as Carmine - Jerry FerraraJerry FerraraJerry Ferrara is an American actor best known for his work as "Turtle" aka Sal on the HBO comedy series Entourage.-Biography:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ferrara attended New Utrecht High School. Ferrara is of Italian descent....
as Bobby - Mena SuvariMena SuvariMena Alexandra Suvari is an American actress, fashion designer, and model. Shortly after beginning her career as a model, she appeared in guest roles on 1990's television shows such as Boy Meets World and High Incident...
as Ellen - Monica KeenaMonica KeenaMonica C. Keena is an American actress, known for her roles as Abby Morgan on Dawson's Creek, Rachel Lindquist on the short-lived comedy Undeclared, Kristin on HBO's Entourage, and as Lori Campbell in Freddy vs. Jason....
as Amy - Ty Reed as Young Carmine
- Benny Salerno as the Doorman
Reception
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
tallied 18 positive and 20 negative reviews, resulting in an average rating of 47%. It noted that the movie's "premise is old hat now, but strong performances from Alec Baldwin and the supporting cast are reasons enough to watch." The film received an overall rating of 53 out of 100 from Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, based on 13 reviews.