One of My Classics. The Family (2013) || Movie Review.

Robert De Niro is one of my top best actors in Hollywood. Since I watched The Godfather II, I have always loved to watch his movies. Most of his movies I have watched and some of my favorites are Mean Streets (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974), Meet the Parents (2000), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Heat (1995), and The family (2013). However I am yet to watch his most recent movie Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) which is on my watchlist. I will see it soon and give my review about the movie.

The first time I saw “The Family (2013)”, it was in a cinema and I was on a date. It is one of my best experiences in the cinema. I enjoyed the movie and I vividly remember someone laughing so hard that he choked on what he was drinking. The movie was fun and filled with dark humor.

However, last week I was looking through my streaming site and I came across a clear copy of the movie. Immediately, without wasting any time, I downloaded it and re-watched it. The re-watch was a journey down to the memory lane and it was still funny to me as it was the first time I saw it.

’The Family (2013)’ is a comedy crime movie that was co-written and directed by Luc Besson. It was based on the French novel Malavita written by Tonino Benacquista. The plot centers around a mafia family who went into FBI witness protection as they work on improving their lifestyle. This movie starred Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron, John D'Leo, and Tommy Lee Jones.

Giovanni Manzoni (Robert De Niro), a mafia boss, and his family were attacked at their barbecue party by Don Lucchese’s men who are his rivals. Afterwards, Lucchese was sent to prison after Manzoni snitched on him. This situation forced him and his family including his wife Maggie, his children Warren and Belle, enter the FBI witness protection program under the supervision of Agent Robert Stansfield. Soon, they relocated to a small town Normandy, in France to live under radar.

However, as they start to adjust to the new lifestyle of staying in Normandy, each family member begins to explore, letting the darker side out while they all run into trouble one way or the other. But, they were being watched by FBI agents to keep them safe but still, they were finding it difficult to blend into the town's lifestyle and norms.

Simultaneously, Manzoni was pretending to be a writer who is writing a historical novel about the Normandy landings. Also, he investigates why the water to his house is colored, and then he dished out his punishment to the perpetrators which invite more trouble. Will they live quietly in the witness protection program?

My Review And Rating.

This movie is such a thrilling and funny movie to watch anytime and any day. It is a movie that was unforgettable to me. When I re-watched it, it was like I was watching for the very first time. It will never get old for me. It is gleefully dark, brutally funny and it came packed with excellent offers of great acting from all the actors involved (who really seem to play their role well).

However, I was surprised that so many people gave this movie negative reviews because it was too violent for them. Ignore these reviews and watch this movie, if you haven't watched it before because the violence in this movie is actually very satisfying.

Another thing I loved about this movie is that you understand why all the main characters stay together regardless of their challenges. You would quickly understand people love each other unconditionally. How the parent's chemistry was absolutely amazing and how the children also display their parents' crazy traits.

The plot was excellent and well written. The scene arrangements were fantastic and with amazing flow pace. This movie is fast paced. A lot of things happening all at once in a brutal and violent way. All you have to do is to catch up as fast as you can. I love all the dark comedy mixed with the plot which further spiced up this movie. The spicy scenes were fairly decent and well acted.

The setting was excellent, the cinematography was gorgeous and beautiful. I loved it. Also, I enjoyed the voiceover of De Niro as he fantasized that he tortured those who tried to disturb his peace. I wouldn't say he is a psychopath for all those violent scenes.

Rating this movie, I will give it 9 out of 10 stars. I loved it. I enjoyed it, it is not a forgettable movie and it is a thrilling one. If you are a fan of Robert De Niro and a lover of dark comedy crime, then I recommend this movie for you to watch and enjoy.