The Dukes are washed up. Once the biggest group of the 60s, the doo-wop vets are now relegated to a circuit dominated by infrequent bouts of nostalgia-driven TV commercials. Fellow crooners and long-time friends Danny (Robert Davi, who also directs, produces and is a co-writer) and George (a comfortable Chazz Palminteri) talk the talk on a daily basis, putting their heads together about how to make ends meet, not only for themselves but the rest of the group, including former-Duke-now-diabetic Armond (Frank D'Amico) and Murphy (Elya Baskin), a friend of the group who always seems to be on the verge of nervous breakdown. When Danny happens to overhear a vital bit of information while accompanying George to the dentist, the Dukes decided that the only way to meet their financial needs is to crack a safe – but they can’t do it alone…
Clearly a labor of love for Robert Davi (who you might have seen in Predator 2 and Showgirls, where he uttered a now-immortal bit of cheesy line goodness that I cannot repeat here; he also portrayed a viciously memorable Bond villain in License to Kill), The Dukes is an inoffensive comedy that pulls no punches and has few stylistic touches. That’s not a criticism against, but rather an affirmation that what Davi sets out to do is tell a story and by sticking to his guns, he makes The Dukes briefly memorable. In the end though, it is a pet project and unfortunately does not rise above its humble indie roots.
Davi assembles a top-notch cast of character actors to populate his film and the chemistry between the actors may be the primary reason to watch. Davi and Palminteri have a natural affinity for one another and their conversations never seem forced. Throw stand-up comedian Frank D'Amico (who sadly passed on in 2008; please seek out his work, he does a lot with a small role in The Dukes and deserved a bigger career), famed director/sometime actor Peter Bogdanovich, reliable ‘that guy’ Elya Baskin and the wonderful Miriam Margolyes, who overplays her hand a bit as Aunt Vee, the very Italian restaurateur under whom Davi and Palminteri labor in their daylight hours.
The heist element of the film would not gel with its otherwise laconic tone if it weren’t played as just another happening in the lives of these has-beens who refuse to accept their current lot in life. Davi brings a steady hand to the proceedings, letting scenes play out and actors show a little more than what lies above. The Dukes is not a film in a hurry and that may eat away at some viewers' patience but if you enjoy the interplay between the actors, who all look like tough guys but act like real, vulnerable people, you’ll be able to stick around for the whole 100 minutes.
The biggest compliment I can pay the picture is that it finishes surprisingly strong. The last thirty minutes following the outcome of the heist are assured, quick-witted filmmaking that wraps up a number of loose ends and subplots gracefully and ends on a powerful note, both literally and metaphorically. The movie throws around a lot of talk about the musical prowess of the Dukes and there is a clever running gag about how they never get to really sing. The lead-up to how and when they finally do is the movie’s sweetest and most sentimental stroke and one that makes up for a sometimes meandering but generally winning small-time picture. Recommended.
P.S. It probably doesn’t hurt to mention that the film comes outfitted with an excellent soundtrack of golden oldies (mostly covers though) that helps propel even the slow crawling parts.
DVD Bonus Features
The extras include a commentary with Davi and D.P. Michael Goi, over an hour of interviews with almost all the cast and crew and five minutes of deleted scenes. A very decent set of extras for a small film.
"The Dukes" is on sale May 4, 2010 and is rated PG13. Comedy, Crime. Directed by Robert Davi. Written by Robert Davi, James Andronica . Starring Chazz Palminteri, Elya Baskin, Frank DAmico, Miriam Margolyes, Peter Bogdanovich.
