Palminteri reportedly held out for the right to play Sonny in adapting his one-man show; De Niro’s enthusiasm and commitment secured the deal.
The stated budget is$10 million and gross$17.3 million; De Niro’s Tribeca production involvement is emphasized.
Sonny reportedly combines two real people, while Palminteri witnessed a childhood killing and had a bus-driver father named Lorenzo.
The real Eddie Mush was reportedly cast after a search, and rain halted filming on his first day.
A supposed Schneider biker cameo is denied; De Niro reportedly obtained a bus license but was not permitted to drive for filming.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:40:20Read transcript

Ebert’s four-star response praises the humor, emotion, characters and De Niro’s tonal control.

Unaddressed slur; biker-fight logistics; police response; Mush joke; absent mother and sibling; Goodfellas imitation

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:40:58Read transcript

C’s racial slur is followed by no adequate apology before the romance resumes.
The out-of-shape mobsters’ overwhelming victory over bikers is disputed, with weapons, fear and practiced violence offered as defenses.
Sonny leaves several bikers behind him while awaiting his men, creating an obvious tactical vulnerability.
C contributes little to the biker fight.
Police reach C’s home implausibly quickly and rely on a nine-year-old despite many other witnesses.
Killing Mush to end his bad luck is jokingly proposed, with his payments and the impracticality of a track shooting as objections.
A mentioned baby and the mother vanish from the later story, prompting speculation about a sister and a separation.
The Goodfellas-like music, storytelling and Pesci casting raise questions about homage versus excessive imitation.

Narducci’s audition; unfilmed Frank Vincent scene; killer’s audition

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:18Read transcript

Narducci reportedly arrived with her son at the open casting call and was discovered herself.
Frank Vincent’s planned mafia-boss scene was never filmed.
The actor playing Sonny’s killer reportedly lost the older-C audition to Brancato.

Stronger friend group; Adrian Grenier

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:37Read transcript

A stronger, now-recognizable actor in C’s friend group is desired, with Adrian Grenier suggested; the one-note roles may be the problem.

De Niro marriages; car-bomb culprit; Scorsese version; Bronx bikers

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:42:02Read transcript

De Niro’s unusually normal screen marriage is compared with Stanley & Iris and Heat.
The car-bomb planter remains unresolved among the bikers, Sonny’s eventual killer and a rival crew.
A hypothetical Scorsese-directed version with De Niro as Sonny is expected to be more cinematic and thrilling, though the existing film’s straightforward ease is also valued.
The bikers’ reason for visiting and attacking a Bronx bar is questioned.