Lookin' Italian

Vinny Pallazzo is a retired gangster who has left the mafia after a disastrous incident. Now working as a clerk in a dusty bookshop of Los Angeles, he has to look after his young, reckless nephew Anthony, who lives fast, spending his time between seducing girls at the bookshop, dancing in nightclubs and playing poker games with friends. Vinny tries to do everything so that Anthony doesn't cross paths with mafia and gang wars, as he is afraid that his brash and hot-blooded nephew might end up like his father - dead. But that may be a lot more difficult than it sounds, especially after Anthony's girlfriend is brutally killed with another friend of his, by a gang. Anthony then wants to be avenged, especially after learning the truth about his father. == Cast ==

• Jay Acovone as Vinny Pallazzo • Matt LeBlanc as Anthony Manetti • Stephanie Richards as Danielle • John LaMotta as Don Dinardo • Ralph Manza as Manza • Lou Rawls as Willy • Daniel O'Callaghan as Buster • Réal Andrews as Riva • Tommy Morgan Jr. (credited as Tommy Morgan) as Leon • Nichole Carter as Dominique Argentina Brunetti plays a grandmother. Denise Richards (credited as Denise Lee Richards) portrays Elizabeth. == Production ==

A low-budget independent movie, ''Lookin' Italian'' is meant to be, in director Guy Magar words, "an hommage to Scorsese and to Italian-American culture ... To me, the words "Lookin' Italian" mean "lookin' good". Magar also mentioned in his autobiography about the good friendship between Acovone and LeBlanc, as Acovone took LeBlanc under his wing and helped him with his acting. == Critical reception ==

The critical response was mixed. Variety said: On the other hand, other newspapers gave some good reviews, especially for a low-budget and low-promoted film. The Press Enterprise remarked, for example, that ''Lookin' Italian'' was "A powerful, smart and sassy independently-made film that comes together so well – blending comedy and drama, issues and entertainment – is a tribute to Guy Magar who made it for the low Hollywood cost of under $1-million!". == Notes ==