MARRIED TO THE MOB

Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Dean Stockwell, Alec Baldwin, Mercedes Reuhl, Matthew Modine
1988 / 104 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono

The first thing I have to say here is, Congratulations to Fran Simeoni who had led Arrow films to great heights, can he do the same with his own label, Radience?

MARRIED TO THE MOB, Jonathan Demme’s mob comedy, sees Angela de Marco (Michelle Pfeiffer) married to mob cleaner Frank “The Cucumber” (Alec Baldwin). He works for boss Tony “The Tiger” Russo (Dean Stockwell) and is often sent out to dispatch enemies of the family. When he crosses the line and is killed for having fun with said bosses girlfriend, Angela leaves 4 bedroom Long Island for New York City and a one bedroom dive. On her tail are FBI man Mike Downey (Matthew Modine), his partner FBI Agent Ed Benitez (Oliver Platt). They hope to catch Tony the boss, who is infatuated with her, incriminating himself. Tony’s insanely jealous wife Connie (Mercedes Ruehl) has other thoughts on her mind and is also behind in the chase. When they all converge, the situation will become farcical. One thinks one thing, another is mistaken for another and then the crazed anger of a woman scorned comes into the mix…

Bookended by SOMETHING WILD (not a huge fan but Criterion released a few years back) and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, MARRIED TO THE MOB feels like the merging of Demmes love of slapstick, screwball comedy and the dark edge of modernity. In the notes, it discribes the film as ‘Inspired equally by the comedies of Preston Sturges and the real-life crimes of John Gotti ‘, which is about the best summation of the film I could conjure. You are not here for my opinion mind on the film, more, my thoughts on the first disc from Radiance. So this is the FUNCITY edition. Or the version that you would have seen from Vinegar Syndromw. First the transfer. It is the same as the Vinegar Syndrome release. Not a bad thing at all. Looking as that did, like a reborn, colour corrected, rich 80s neon pallete glories dream. There is nothing to fault here. Nothing. I looked. The extras are the same. Modine talks softly but with obvious warmth, on the film. He is a nice guy but says little to enlighten the film over Demme skill with actors.  Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns are far more rich in what they have to say. The film is a myriad series of interests and then obsessions. From the criminal networks, which were crashing down in the 80s, their love of culture talking and pratt falling. The best thing here is Mercedes Ruehl. She is funny, honest, witty, laughing at her opinion on why her character worked. Its a win from Radience, long may it continue.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• New 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive
• “A Simple Appreciation of Life,” a newly filmed video interview with star Matthew Modine
• “It Barreled into My Life,” a newly filmed video interview with star Mercedes Ruehl
• “Writing Married to the Mob,” a newly filmed video interview with writers Barry Strugatz and Mark R. Burns
• Image gallery
• Theatrical trailer
• Booklet with new essays by writer and podcaster Jourdain Searles and DJ and writer Margaret Barton-Fumo
• Newly recorded audio commentary by Danielle Henderson and Millie De Chirico of the I Saw What You Did podcast
• English SDH subtitles
• Limited edition o-card slipcover based on the original UK quad poster

https://www.radiancefilms.co.uk/products/married-to-the-mob-limited-slipcover