A brutal 1930s gangster saga that explores the heavy cost of blind, violent vengeance.
In short: Abel Ferrara’s 1996 crime drama follows three brothers caught in a cycle of retribution after a tragic death. While the Tempio family seeks justice in the New York underworld, the film reveals that the truth behind their brother’s murder is far more personal and devastating than any rival gang war.
The narrative centers on the Tempio brothers, a trio of violent criminals operating in 1930s New York. When the sensitive Johnny is killed, his surviving brothers, the cold-blooded Ray and the volatile Chez, immediately seek retribution. They assume the culprit is a rival gangster named Gaspare Spoglia. Ray even subjects Gaspare to a bizarre interrogation, relying on a superstitious belief that a corpse will bleed if the murderer approaches it. When Gaspare shows no reaction, Ray realizes he is innocent, yet orders his death anyway, illustrating the casual cruelty of their world.
The reality of the murder is far less cinematic than a gangland power struggle. Johnny was actually killed by a man seeking revenge for a personal humiliation involving a girlfriend. This revelation strips away the romanticized veneer of the gangster lifestyle, exposing the petty, fragile egos driving the violence. The film’s conclusion is particularly grim: after the killer is executed, Chez turns his weapon on his own family, killing Ray and his bodyguards before desecrating Johnny’s corpse and taking his own life. This final act of destruction leaves the surviving women to mourn amidst the carnage.
The production was marked by intense behind-the-scenes friction. Vincent Gallo alleged that the director was under the influence of crack during the shoot, and Gallo was involved in a physical fight with John Ventimiglia that eventually led to a 2001 lawsuit. Despite these tensions, the film earned significant critical acclaim upon its November 1996 release. Critics praised the performances of the ensemble cast, which included Christopher Walken and Chris Penn, who won the Volpi Cup for Best Supporting Actor at the Venice International Film Festival. With a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains a respected entry in the genre, later ranked by Empire as one of the greatest overlooked gangster films.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Funeral (1996 film)
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