Summary
A former Hells Angels gang member explains howA Bronx Taleaccurately depicts bar brawls. Directed by and starring De Niro and released in 1993,A Bronx Talechronicles how a young boy becomes torn between his hard-working father and the charismatic crime boss that runs their neighborhood. The film, which also stars Chazz Palminteri and Lillo Brancato, features some moments of intense violence, including a bar brawl involving a biker gang.
In a recent video forInsider, former Hells Angels chapter president Pat Matter breaks downA Bronx Tale’s bar brawl, explaining what the scene gets right.
Matter explains that one cause of bar fights that he became familiar with was establishments refusing to serve club members after seeing the patches on their jackets. These types of brawls also happen, however, between rival gangs. Check out Matter’s comments below:
“That happens quite a bit. Barroom fights generally, if they tell you they refuse to serve you with your colors on, or once you take them off, the club would leave. An instant go-to-jail, you know, when you get into a brawl like that.
“Well, this happened in Laughlin, Nevada. The Hells Angels ran into another club called the Mongols in a casino. And, naturally, the two clubs don’t get along and it jumped off in the casino. It wasn’t planned that way, but in them circumstances, brawls do happen.
“I see Sonny in the movie as the mafia boss. Well, you know, I’ve never encountered anything like that. And the club don’t care if it’s the mafia or who it is at the time that’s telling them they’re refusing to serve him with their patch on. It would happen. There would be a brawl.
“I’d give it a 7 or 8 out of 10 because it has happened, and not real frequent.”
A Bronx Tale’s Reception Explained
How The De Niro Film Fared Critically & Commercially
De Niro is probably best known for his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese. Together, they made movies likeTaxi Driver,Raging Bull,Goodfellas, andCasino, among other classic titles, and they recently reunited for2019’sThe Irishmanand2023’sKillers of the Flower Moon. Though De Niro remains a notable figure in Hollywood due to his acting roles,A Bronx Talemarks the first time he tried his hand at directing, and it was a significant success critically.
Every Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
Scorsese and De Niro’s 50-year partnership has included Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, and Raging Bull, and there isn’t a bad movie among them.
OnRotten Tomatoes,A Bronx Taleenjoys a strong score of 97% from critics. The audience response, too, is impressive, with a score of 93%. The film was widely praised for De Niro’s direction and the strong performances from the movie’s key cast members.A Bronx Talemay feature some elements in common with other coming-of-age dramas, but critics largely celebrated the film as a fresh take on a familiar formula.
97%
93%
80/100
8.4/10
Unfortunately, the strong critical and audience reception wasn’t enough to saveA Bronx Taleat the box office. Made on an estimated budget of $21 million,the film ended up grossing only about $17 million, making it quite a financial disappointment. It’s notable, too, that De Niro wouldn’t direct another movie until 2006 withThe Good Shepherd. WhileA Bronx Talemay not have been a commercial hit, Matter’s analysis makes clear that, in addition to featuring some strong storytelling, the film also knows how to depict a bar brawl.
De Niro has not directed another film sinceThe Good Shepherd, which was also a box office disappointment.
A Bronx Tale
Cast
A Bronx Tale is a coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s Bronx and directed by Robert De Niro. The film explores the life of a young boy named Calogero who is torn between the values of his hardworking father and the allure of a charismatic mob boss. Starring Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri, it delves into themes of loyalty, family, and the complexities of moral choices.
