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"FIND ME GUILTY" (2006) (Vin Diesel, Linus Roache) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Moderate Extreme *Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor None None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Heavy Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: A charismatic and street smart mafia figure decides to defend himself in a lengthy and high-profile federal case against him and other members of his mob family. PLOT: It's the late 1980s and low-level mobster Giacomo "Jackie Dee" DiNorscio (VIN DIESEL) has just been shot by his junkie cousin Tony Compagna (RAUL ESPARZA). Yet, rather than rat him out, Jackie wants to deal with him the mob way, but gets arrested and then sentenced to thirty years on an unrelated drug bust. Still afraid of reprisals from the extended mob family run by Nick Calabrese (ALEX ROCCO), Tony agrees to be a government witness for district attorney Sean Kierney (LINUS ROACHE) who wants to bring down the entire mob family. That sets into motion a massive court case where Jackie, Nick and the rest of the mobsters are tried together for various mob crimes in front of presiding judge Sidney Finestein (RON SILVER). Upset that his current lawyer isn't any good, Jackie turns down an offer from lead defense attorney Ben Klandis (PETER DINKLAGE) and decides to represent himself in the case, despite having no legal background or real knowledge of how to proceed. As the weeks turn into months, the court case evolves into a lengthy affair where Jackie -- who's divorced from ex-wife Bella (ANNABELLA SCIORRA) -- turns the courtroom into something of a three-ring circus, much to the collective dismay of Nick, Ben and especially judge Finestein who repeatedly threatens the charismatic mobster to be cautious about how he proceeds. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or mob-related movies, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For strong language and some violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: VIN DIESEL plays a mobster who's spent more than half his life in jail, including a current 30-year term for dealing drugs. He decides to defend himself in the fed's big court case against his mob family, uses strong profanity, smokes, admits to using cocaine in the past and briefly fights with the guards, but won't rat on anyone who's done him wrong. PETER DINKLAGE plays the lead mob defense attorney who's concerned about what effect Jackie is going to have on the trial. He briefly uses strong profanity. LINUS ROACHE plays the fed's lead prosecutor who becomes increasingly obsessed with the case and Jackie's effect on it. He becomes edgier as the months pass, uses strong profanity and does everything he can to make Jackie crack. RON SILVER plays the by-the-books judge who's presiding over the case and must put up with the occasional theatrics. ALEX ROCCO plays the head of the mob family who's on trial, drinks, hates Jackie and uses strong profanity. ANNABELLA SCIORRA plays Jackie's ex-wife who briefly visits him in jail. RAUL ESPARZA plays Jackie's junkie cousin who tries to kill him and then turns sides to become a key witness for the feds. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 73 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually explicit dialogue is present (including some that's homosexual in nature), while a divorced couple starts to have sex standing against a wall but are separated by prison guards before they get very far. A man tries to murder his cousin by shooting him (with bloody results), while a prisoner briefly fights with some guards before they beat him into submission. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while we briefly see a drug bust (where cocaine is visible) and drug-related dialogue (including about past use) is present. Various characters drink and/or smoke, while some crude humor occurs. There's talk of estranged family relationships, while a major character's mother dies and he's not permitted to attend her funeral. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Jackie's adult daughter tells Tony that she's making daiquiris, but he doesn't want one. We hear that Tony is a junkie. We see a drug deal going down (cocaine in packets), but it's an undercover bust and Jackie is arrested. Jackie has wine with his food. Sean and his assistants drink. The mobster and their lawyers have wine. Nick has wine. During the trial, there's talk of narcotics sales and a mob figure on the stand says he and Jackie did coke and got high in the past. Jackie then admits he loved it, and jokingly asks the defendant if he brought any to the trial. A mob figure states that in the past, and while high, Jackie liked to "nail" two "broads" at a time. There's more talk of Jackie's use of drugs in the past. There's talk of a witness being high in the past. The mobsters and their lawyers have wine with a meal. To prove a point about stereotypes, Jackie hypothetically mentions some Irish people being drunk and vomiting all over the floor. An agent says that Tony was too stoned in the past to count some money he was delivering to Nick. There's talk that an agent delivered booze to Jackie's father despite knowing that Jackie's brother was an alcoholic. We hear that Jackie's brother is dead (somehow tied to his alcoholism). Nick and other mobsters have wine on a boat. Judge Finestein offers Jackie a drink, but the latter declines the offer (but Judge Finestein pours for both of them anyway). Sean and Judge Finestein have drinks while discussing the case with Ben. The mob guys have wine. During the trial, there's a list of drugs that Tony was on in the past, including (but not limited to) heroin, coke, pot, Quaaludes and various prescription medications. BLOOD/GORE Jackie is bloody after being shot several times (on his neck, hands and elsewhere). When a guard pulls back an impromptu curtain, we see Jackie sitting on the toilet in his jail cell (but don't see or hear anything explicit or crude although a comment is later made about "taking a crap"). Jackie farts in a car and others react to the smell and roll down the windows. To prove a point about stereotypes, Jackie hypothetically mentions some Irish people being drunk and vomiting all over the floor. We see Jackie's face that's all swollen and bruised from a beating by guards. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Tony tries to murder Jackie (his cousin). We hear that Jackie was involved in all sorts of mob-related crimes in the past (including dealing drugs). Various people (including Sean) use terms such as "goombas" and "guineas" when referring to Italian men, while the terms "faggot" and "fag" are used about homosexuals. All of the defendants in the case are mob figures accused of various crimes. Nick despises Jackie and doesn't hide his feelings about him. Jackie says that he refused the advances of a man in the past, adding that he woke up to find the man "trying to give me a blowjob." This talk occurs during the trial (where the man denies it) and Jackie holds up a sucker, asking the man "You want to suck on this instead?" Later, Nick says that Jackie is the "faggot" in that he'd "suck c*ck" in order to walk (get off the charges). An agent admits that he pegged the defendants as Italian simply by the way they looked and were acting. Nick threatens to cut out Jackie's heart, saying he's done it before (to others). There's talk that an agent delivered booze to Jackie's father despite knowing that Jackie's brother was an alcoholic. Jokingly talking about some man in the past they think was a "fag," one mobster says "My great-grandfather f*cked him." Sean makes a mocking comment about Jackie choosing to "jerk off" in his cot or do something else. Jackie's wife spits in a prison guard's face after he makes a sexually inappropriate comment toward her. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers (but the director's approach, including the mix of comedy, diffuses any real suspense). Nick threatens to cut out Jackie's heart, saying he's done it before (to others). An old mobster clutches his chest, appears in pain and falls to the floor (others rush to his aid and he's then taken away by ambulance -- and returns days later to the trial in his hospital bed but is otherwise okay). GUNS/WEAPONS Handgun: Used by Tony to shoot Jackie repeatedly, severely injuring him. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Go f*ck yourself," "F*ck them," "We're not f*cking around," "You're f*cking A," "Don't f*ck with me," "You f*cks," "F*ck you (ignoramus)," "F*ck him too," "Get the f*ck out /of my cell/of here," "How the f*ck do I know?" "He's f*cking crazy," "What the f*ck /you talking about/do you think you're doing up there/is wrong with these people?" "I'll cut your f*cking heart out," "My f*ck-up," "F*ck-head," "We're fighting about f*cking," "Bullsh*t," "Sure as sh*t," "Piece of sh*t," "Sh*t-hole of a mouth," "You're (so) full of sh*t," "Sh*t for brains," "A guinea c*cks*cker," "Sitting here holding my d*ck" and "We'll be standing there with our d*cks in our hands" (nonsexual), "Tough t*tty," "You're a pr*ck," "I'm no gangster, I'm a gagster," "We're not morons," "Sure as hell," "Busting my balls," "Taking a crap," "Shoved it right up my ass," "Goombas," "Wipe my ass with it," "Broads" (women), "What the hell did I do?" "Faggot," "Fag," "Kissing ass," "You're an ignorant slob," "A fart in a hurricane," "To hell with what happens later," "I feel like hell," "Douche-bag," "Stupid bastard," "Knocked cockeyed," "Jeez" and "Jerk-off" (noun). After Jackie won't say who shot him, two disgusted cops leave the room, with one giving Jackie "the finger." Jackie grabs his clothed crotch to mock Sean. Jackie's wife spits in a prison guard's face after he makes a sexually inappropriate comment toward her. JUMP SCENES Sean suddenly slams something down while mad at Jackie (the sound might startle some viewers). MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 73 "f" words (3 used with "mother," 2 used sexually as is the term "nail"), 19 "s" words, 11 slang terms using male genitals ("c*ck," "c*cks*cker," "d*ck" and "pr*ck"), 3 using female ones ("p*ssy" and "tw*t"), 1 for breasts ("t*tty"), 12 asses (4 used with "hole"), 10 hells, 1 damn, 1 crap, 3 uses of "G-damn," 2 each of "For Christ's sakes," "My God," "Oh God" and "Swear to God" and 1 use each of "God Almighty," "Jesus" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY We see some miscellaneous cleavage. Jackie tells a story of his wife wanting $20 for meat, with him saying he held a $20 bill up to a mirror and said that the one in the reflection was hers, while the one in his hand was his. He then says that when he later returned home, there was lots of meat there, so he asked his wife how that happened. He then makes the motion of her lifting the front of her dress and states that she said the one (her genitals) in the mirror belongs to Jackie, but the one there belonged to the butcher. Later, one of the prosecutors comments on him talking about his wife's "tw*t." A mob figure states that in the past, and while high, Jackie liked to "nail" two "broads" at a time. Jackie says that he refused the advances of a man in the past, adding that he woke up to find the man "trying to give me a blowjob." This talk occurs during the trial (where the man denies it) and Jackie holds up a sucker, asking the man "You want to suck on this instead?" Later, Nick says that Jackie is the "faggot" in that he'd "suck c*ck" in order to walk (get off the charges). Jokingly talking about some man in the past they think was a "fag," one mobster says "My great-grandfather f*cked him." Sean makes a mocking comment about Jackie choosing to "jerk off" in his cot or do something else. Jackie grabs his clothed crotch to mock Sean. Jackie's wife shows some cleavage when she visits him in jail (in a private room). While discussing their past, she tells him he was good in the sack and he says she was as well. That prompts her to get mad and wonder why he needed all the "f*cking whores" since she never denied him (sexually). She them makes some mocking comment about him not being able to "get it up" while in the missionary position and admits that they're "fighting about f*cking." He says that despite whatever he did in the past, he always loved her, prompting her to reply "Too bad your f*cking c*ck didn't know it." He then replies that it had a mind of its own. The two then spontaneously decide to have sex up against the wall. We see the motion of his hands down at his and/or her crotch and then getting between her legs against the wall while standing, but some guards come in and interrupt them. After Jackie is gone, one male guard salaciously asks if she'd like him to "come back and finish the job," prompting her to spit in his face. Talking to the mob guys about their ability to go home while he has to stay in jail, Jackie tells them that they have "warm p*ssy" waiting for them at home (joking that is if their wives are out of town). He then says the only "p*ssy" he has is his right hand. We see some miscellaneous cleavage. SMOKING Jackie smokes various times, his wife, daughter and Tony each smoke once, while a number of miscellaneous characters smoke (cigarettes and cigars) in several scenes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jackie is divorced from his wife and the two briefly get into it over his prior adulterous ways. Jackie's adult daughter states that she never sees her brother much. Jackie states that it's been two years since he's seen his mom. We hear that Jackie's brother is dead (somehow tied to his alcoholism). Jackie learns that his mother has died and that he won't be allowed to attend the funeral. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy and/or any artistic license taken with the story. The mob, mobsters and the government's efforts to bring them down. Drug addiction. We hear that Jackie has been in prison for half his life. The Latin courtroom motto "Let justice be done though the heavens may fall." The right of people to defend themselves (serve as their own counsel) in court cases. We hear that Jackie only has a sixth grade education. The comment that a laughing jury is not a hanging jury. The fact that Jackie won't ever rat out anyone regardless of whether they've wronged him. The comment that anyone who defends themselves in a court of law has a fool for a client. VIOLENCE Tony enters Jackie's bedroom where Jackie is sleeping. The latter wakes up to find Tony aiming a silencer-equipped handgun at him. Tony then fires a shot that grazes Jackie's neck and then proceeds to shoot him several more times, including through the hand. Jackie's wounded and bloody, but doesn't die (all occurring as a lively period song plays on the soundtrack, thus diffusing the seriousness of what we're seeing). Doing a spot inspection, some guards come into Jackie's jail cell, with one dumping him from his bed to the floor. He gets mad and punches one, but is then grabbed and slammed face-first against the cell bars where one or more guards proceed to hit him with their night-sticks. He manages to elbow one, but is hit again, knocked to the floor where he's kicked and then held down there with one guard making the motion of kicking him in the crotch but we don't see the impact. We later see him, however, with his face all swollen and bruised from the beating. Reviewed March 6, 2006 / Posted March 17, 2006

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