Analyze That (2002)

The Plot
The film takes over from the first part and Paul Vitti is in prison. He senses a danger to his life inside the prison and fakes a medical problem to come out. Inevitably, Dr. Sobel will be in charge of him as Paul is out on parole on medical grounds.

Sobel is trying to deal with the death of his father. Paul is initially very extravagant as a house guest at Paul's. He even brings over a hooker and fucks her for an eternity. Sobel attempts to make Paul fit into the normal social life by looking out for jobs for him but, Paul isn't able to adjust to any job. He finally becomes a consultant to a gangster based TV show.

In the end he plans a nice gold robbery heist and makes sure that all the mobsters who were gunning for his life, get caught and are sent to prison. Paul and his ally Jelly bid goodbye to Sobel in the end.

Hits

• Robert De Niro has more fun in this part. So spontaneous. He is a riot. Billy Crystal is typically the same as he was in the first part. Straight faced humor is his forte. 
• Joe Viterelli is again very funny and enjoyable as Jelly. Lisa Kudrow as Dr. Sobel's wife, Laura is very petite and elegant. She impresses with her helpnessness at the fact that her husband is being taken for a ride by Paul Vitti. 

VERDICT

Some good light hearted fun.

Limitless (2011)

The Plot
A worn out and wasted writer, Eddie Morra is badly looking for inspiration in life when he comes across a drug that works wonders to his brain. It is called NZT. As soon as he takes it, he starts working like a dream and his efficiency is unimaginably high.

He becomes a big name in the share market and starts working with big shots like Carl Van Loon. But, due to this drug and his high profile rise, he is also pursued by other notorious people in the city who want the drug for obvious reasons.

He also goes through a stage when he is on the verge of collapsing due to the after effects of the drug. But Eddie hangs in, ensures constant supply and intake of NZT and becomes really big, to the level of becoming the Senator and US President in waiting. He also stabilizes his relationship with his girlfriend Lindy after a failed marriage to Melissa.
Hits

• Bradley Cooper is style personified and looks obnoxiously handsome.
• Abbie Cornish redefines petite and cute. Such divine looks. 
• Robert De Niro looks really old. But, nevertheless the class is intact
• The making style is classy and quite extravagant with lots of zooms and jerky camera movements & trendy BG score. Sort of 'Fight Club' like in the overall look and feel 
• The scenes where Eddie and Lindy feel the effect of NZT are portrayed with a lot of stylish impact. 

VERDICT

This fantasy entertainer makes you go WOW ...  

Analyze This (1999)

The Plot
Paul Vitti is a dreaded gangster who starts getting some panic attacks due to his troubled past. The exact reason is the death of his father when he was a young kid. Paul doesn't know the exact reason for his panic and hence he approaches a psychiatrist with a lot of hesitation.

The psychiatrist is Dr.Sobel who is about to get married for the 2nd time. Paul and his side-kick Jelly repeatedly barge into Dr.Sobel's space for Paul's consultation. There are a lot of funny moments as Sobel botches his marriage ceremonies on some occasions.

Finally, Paul fixes his issues thanks to Sobel's expertise and Paul decides to quit the mob business for good. He is sent to jail and continues to have sessions with Sobel who visits him. Sobel also gets married. The climax scene where all the mob bosses meet up and Sobel as Paul's acting lawyer gives one helluva funny speech, is a riot.

Hits

• Robert De Niro as the gangster who struggles with his emotions in private while putting up a brave face in public, is a charmer. The way he cries is particularly funny.
• Billy Crystal as the psychiatrist impresses in the scenes where he is caught up between Paul and his wedding commitments. His speech in the climax is THE moment of the film
• Paul's side-kick Jelly looks so funny and chubby. 
• The scenes showing the gangsters with all their crazy names and their plans, are quite funny. For a funny movie, even such serious scenes look spoofed and entertaining. 

VERDICT

Some light hearted fun.

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The Plot
The film traces the path of Michael Corleone's life as The Godfather, how he ambitiously plans to rise in the casino business, how his wife goes away from him citing his shady life as a gangster, how he deals with the inquiry commissions and how he again deals with all his back-stabbers including his brother Fredo and other close aides.

The early days of Vito Corleone is another parallel track in the film. Right from the days when Vito comes to New York as a small kid after the murders of his father and brother to his early days of struggle as a family man cum paisan to his bonding with Clemenza, Tessio and how they deal with the local don Fanucci to how he rises as a Don and how he takes revenge on Don Cicci for the murder of his father.

The film ends with an aged Michael Corleone reminiscing about how his life had changed.

                                                                       
Hits

• The rise of Vito Corleone is easily the best part of the film. Robert De Niro is brilliant as the young and middle aged Vito. That easy gait and the pleasing face are major pluses for Robert
• Al Pacino as Michael is grim faced throughout the film and he under plays and bursts out with ease. Class act.
• Robert Duvall has another major role as Tommy Hagen. Another restrained show. 
• The casting is perfect. Michael's son looks just like young Al Pacino and Vito's son Fredo looks like Robert De Niro  
• The soundtrack is an extension of the first part's. Legendary themes by Nino Rota

Misses

• Not as gripping as the first part.
• Particularly, Michael's business dealings are picturized in too much detail and the screenplay is bogged down. 

VERDICT

Watchable for Al Pacino and Robert De Niro

Goodfellas (1990)

Whats it about:

This is the true life story of Henry Hill a high profile gangster who was born to be one. Henry joins Paul Cicero’s gang from a very young age and gets involved in small jobs. Then he gets introduced to Jimmy Conway, a legendary figure in the gangster circles and Tommy DeVito

      This trio is a solid gang and they smuggle at the airport. They lead high profile lives and live life king size. Jimmy is a cool dude. He is fond of stealing and flaunts his money and keeps everyone happy. Henry gets married to Karen and at the same time has many whores as his keeps. He is also a partner at a nice upmarket restaurant. Tommy never settles with one girl and in spite of his mom’s requests, refuses to marry one. Tommy is sort of a hot blooded person and he can never tolerate insults. This leads to murders too on some occasions. Jimmy, Paul and Henry are jailed once too. 

      The big boss Paul, asks Henry to slow down a bit after going to jail but, Henry gets involved in drugs and the narcotic business in a big way. Henry and co. pull off a big heist and in the aftermath start finishing off the extras that helped them pull off the heist. In the meanwhile Tommy is killed by the Italians on the day when he is to be 'made', for one of his earlier fits of rage on Billy Batts, a 'made' gangster. 

        Finally the police nab Henry and he has no option other than ratting on his partners after coming out on bail. So Henry is put on the state protection program and he is a ‘nobody’ now. His partners Paul and Jimmy are sent to jail on life sentences

                                                                    

Hits

• Scorsese's depiction of the life of gangsters is so stylish. The Wise Guys or the Goodfellas, is how he chooses to call them. The screenplay is so uber cool. Lots of research done indeed. Very true to life depiction of a real story
• The subjective viewpoints shown throughout the film in the form of narrations by Henry or Karen is again very engaging. 
• The dialogs are another major plus for the first person narration that runs along.
• Joe Pesci is a riot as the loud mouthed hot blooded gangster Tommy. Deserving Oscar. 
• Ray Liotta is fit for the lead gangster Henry's role with his mad laughs and wicked eyes. A role of a life time for him 
• Lorraine Bracco, the tall and stylish chic is ultra glamorous and elegant as Karen. 

Misses

• Robert De Niro definitely deserves a bigger role than just playing second fiddle. Such a legend can't be wasted like this.

VERDICT

One of those cult gangster films. Fucking stylish and trendy in its presentation. Take a bow, Sir Martin Scorsese ...