Tuesday, July 23, 2013

In Character: Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina was a guy we all knew. With his consistent tan, permanent mustache, trademark Chicagoan voice, and perfect comedic timing, I’d be hard pressed to find a single fan of contemporary cinema that didn’t recognize his talents.

While I love bringing attention to excellent character actors in this column, I hate when such sad circumstances are the motivating factor for me writing about a particular actor. Yesterday morning, Dennis Farina died after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69 years old, but his impact will certainly last longer.

As a Chicago cop for nearly 20 years, Farina first saw mainstream acting fame while working as a police consultant on Michael Mann’s first film, Thief. Mann asked Farina if he wanted a small role in the film, and the rest, as they say, is history. Known for playing cops, robbers, thugs and mafiosos, Farina had the rare ability to make any film or television show better. That was the power of his presence. No matter the material, he always managed to excel.

Five Essential Roles
Manhunter (1986)
Jack Crawford
Some truly great men have played FBI agent Jack Crawford over the years, but Farina is by far my favorite incarnation of the character. Other Crawford’s may have been too foreboding (Scott Glenn) or too ordinary (Harvey Keitel), but Farina is just right. He’s stern, but helpful. Articulate, but approachable. Let me put it another way: Dennis Farina played a number of police officers over the years, but Jack Crawford feels the most real. He walks and talks like a veteran cop, and an honest one at that. A guy who is willing to do what it takes to nab a killer, even if it includes cutting a few corners.

Midnight Run (1988)
Jimmy Serrano
This is a stretch, but I might go as far as to say that Jimmy Serrano is the most important character of Farina’s career. As a Chicago mob boss trying to hunt down an accountant who stole millions from him, Farina doesn’t waste a second of screentime in this film. With his constant hysterical banter, violent verbal tirades and imposing physical presence, Serrano is the prototype of men who would define Farina’s impressive career. Farina always played these guys to a T, and going back to the source is time well spent. In short, Jimmy Serrano was the first of many sarcastic assholes Farina would play, and we’re all better off for it.

Get Shorty (1995)
Ray “Bones” Barboni
If Jimmy Serrano had spent the years post-Midnight Run getting shit on, then Ray Bones is how he’d end up. Ray is a mob shmuck whose overly bronzed face and continually broken nose makes him an easy target. But beneath the tacky suits and cheap ties, Ray is a ruthless criminal who savagely resorts to violence to get what he wants. But here’s the thing, whether he’s getting punched in the face by John Travolta, or pressing his shoe on Gene Hackman’s head, there’s nothing Farina does here that isn’t fucking priceless. Just try and pick a favorite Ray Bones quote. Damn near impossible. Everything this guy says and does is done with conviction, to perfection.

Snatch (2000)
Avi
In my opinion, the pinnacle of the Dennis Farina mob dimwit is Cousin Avi from Guy Ritchie’s Snatch. Every second of exasperated expression and every word of spoken sarcasm is delivered to comedic excellence. There isn’t a single thing Farina does in this movie that doesn’t provoke a smile. Whether we’re laughing at him or with him (though the former is slightly more enjoyable), Farina sells Avi as well as he sold any character he ever played.

When I watch Farina’s performance here, I’m reminded of the work Samuel L. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino do together. Tarantino and Jackson have both claimed that Jackson was born to speak Tarantino’s dialogue, and I feel the same of Farina and Ritchie. Perhaps if Ritchie had cast Farina in all of his subsequent films, the director’s career would be slightly more pronounced. But as it will remain, Avi was their only collaboration together, and crime comedy cinema should be forever grateful.

Sidewalks of New York (2001)
Carpo
After his live-in girlfriend unexpectedly dumbs him, Tommy (Edward Burns), moves in with his colleague, Carpo, an old school player who never misses an opportunity to give young Tommy hilariously awful sex advice. The highlight of Farina’s work as Carpo occurs as Tommy gets ready for a first date in Carpo’s bathroom. As Carpo rests in his giant tub enjoying a bubble bath, he instructs Tommy to spray a little cologne on his nether regions.

“Just give those bad boys a spritz and she’ll love it. Go ahead, do what I tell ya.”

There certainly aren’t too many men who could pull off a line of dialogue like that.

The Best of the Best
The Last Rites of Joe May (2011)
Joe May
If you asked me yesterday what my favorite Dennis Farina performance was, I would’ve told you Avi from Snatch. But when news of Farina’s passing broke, I set out to find essential Farina roles I had previously missed. I quickly came across Joe Maggio’s indie The Last Rites of Joe May on Netflix, and I spent the subsequent two hours admiring in melancholic nostalgia.

The Last Rites of Joe May marked a number of firsts for Dennis Farina, at least as far as my exposure to his career goes. It’s the first time I’ve seen him earn first billing on a film, and the first time I’ve seen him truly embrace his age. Joe May has a sense of humor and a temper (as most Farina characters do), but they run second to pity, helplessness and self-doubt.

When we meet Joe, he’s being released from the hospital after several weeks following a wicked bout of pneumonia. Problem is, while Joe was sick, everyone he knew assumed he was dead. His landlord rented his apartment, his car was impounded, his bartender closed his tab. Now, imagine this for a second. Imagine if you were in the hospital for seven weeks, and everyone you knew assumed you were dead. No one visited. No one called or wrote. They just assumed, “Ah, he’s gone.” Waking up and realizing no one gives a shit about you would certainly put life into perspective, and that’s the angle Farnia plays so well here.

As I watched The Last Rites of Joe May, I realized that this was the role Dennis Farina’s career was leading up to. This is the role he was born to play. This is the role he deserves to be chiefly remembered for. A shuffling, lost, old man seeking redemption in the coldest of places. A man trying to prove he’s still got a little fight left in him. A man trying to leave a lasting legacy. Tried, and achieved.

Other Notable Roles
In Saving Private Ryan
While I feel I am proficient in the film roles of Dennis Farina, I fear I am woefully ignorant of his work in television. I am a catch-them-as-they-come viewer of Law & Order, but certainly haven’t seen every episode featuring Farina. Similarly, I have never seen the Michael Mann-produced Crime Story, or HBO’s short-lived Luck. In this regard, it looks like I have some great viewing ahead of me.

Thief (1981)
Miami Vice (1984-1889)
Crime Story (1986-1988)
Striking Distance (1993)
Eddie (1996)
Out of Sight (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The Mod Squad (1999)
Reindeer Games (2000)
Big Trouble (2002)
Law & Order (2004-2006)
Empire Falls (2005)
You Kill Me (2007)
Purple Violets (2007)
Bottle Shock (2008)
Luck (2011-2012)

28 comments:

  1. First Gandolfini and now him. Why? Why those guys? They're the real good guys.

    I love Dennis Farina. He's an actor that whenever I see him in anything. You know he brings it. Even in a bad movie. I love his performance in Out of Sight where he definitely played the role as a father perfectly while being a bit funny. I hope he and Gandolfini are right now acting with Marlon Brando.

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    1. Oh man, the last line of your comment just made me smile. Damn, that's a nice thought.

      You know, I went back and forth in including his work in Manhunter, Out of Sight or Saving Private Ryan. Hell, I should've anyway because I love them all equally. But really, I loved everything this guy did.

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  2. Holy shit, I had no idea he died! News to me. How devastating. A great, vastly talented man.

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    1. Isn't it such a shame? I love this man's work.

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  3. Great post, as always, even under shitty circumstances.

    I'm not really a TV guy, so all my Farina knowledge comes from the hardasses he played in film. I've seen 4/5 films you mentioned, and I'm completely with you on Avi from Snatch. Such a hilarious role.

    I was definitely a fan.

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    1. Thanks man. If you're a fan of his work I really cannot recommend Joe May highly enough. He was perfect in it. (sigh) So sad.

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  4. I have no idea what's going on nowadays. First with Gandolfini, and now Farina?!?! John Turturro better look out! The Italian actors are beginning to drop like flies!

    Anyway, great post as usual brotha. I've always loved him in Snatch, but I've seen him in so much other stuff it's hard to make up my final opinion. Guess I'll just have to see what falls into my lap that just so happens to be works that are his.

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    1. I know right? It's just awful.

      Snatch will always be my favorite comedic role of his. Everything he says and does in that movie is priceless. "Shut up and sit down you big bald fuck."

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    2. Priceless, man. Priceless.

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    3. Also, just sent you an email, my man!

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  5. Henry DeSalvo in "Big Trouble" has line after line of Farina perfection. Similar to "Get Shorty" and "Midnight Run", it is full of wise guy poetry.

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    1. I was really close to including DeSalvo actually, for the exact reason you mentioned. I didn't think that was a very good film, but Farina is perfect in it.

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  6. First Gandolfini, now Farina? Jesus, who's the next on the list of go-to actors for gangsters to bite the dust?

    On a less somber note, he was basically one of the best things about Get Shorty and Snatch.

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    1. I know right? It's so damn sad. (sigh)

      Your less somber note is something I couldn't agree more with. So very true.

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  7. This guy was so good in Manhunter and Snatch, a shame that he's passed on. I'm certainly going to have to track down The Last Rites of Joe May based on what you've said about it.

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    1. A shame indeed. He's remarkable in The Last Rites of Joe May. A perfect and substantial role for late in his career.

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  8. I loved his performances in Snatch, Get Shorty and Midnight Run. Adding The Last Rites of Joe May to my watchlist.

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    1. So good to hear that you're adding Joe May to your watchlist. If you're a Farina fan, I know you'll like it.

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  9. Lost a legend. Good call on The Last Rites of Joe May. Very underrated film, Farina delivers big time. It might of been one of his last roles, but it also was possibly one of his best.

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    1. A legend indeed. Love hearing your Joe May praise. More people need to see that one.

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  10. Re : the tv series Luck,,,Farina is in every episode, and almost all of that is acting opposite Dustin Hoffman. Their characters are friends, there are no fireworks, but it's like sipping a beautiful single malt. You appreciate every drop and luxuriate in the slowly spreading warmth.
    Dennis, gonna miss you - thanks for all the great work you leave us with.

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    1. I had planned on catching up with Luck, but once it got cancelled, I decided to not bother. Not that I'm not a HUGE Mann fan (which I am) it's that I thought I would like the show so much and want more more more. Too bad it got canned. Either way, glad to hear you're a Farnia fan. Dude was amazing.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.

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  11. Well done, Alex. I just discovered your work here and this post is particularly close to my heart. I knew Dennis Farina before he was an actor....I think I was 6 the first time I remember meeting him. I was fortunate in getting to host the party for the NYC premiere of "Midnight Run" and enjoyed catching up with him then on what was becoming a flourishing career. His work since hasn't disappointed. He never change over all of these years from the man I knew growing up. Dennis had a truly kind heart despite a mouth that could make angels cry.....though even his cursing had a feel of poetry to it. Do yourself a favor and watch "Luck". Mann's signature is evident and the cast is wonderful!

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    1. Thanks so much for this comment, Dawn! I love hearing personal stories like that. So happy to hear that Dennis was an all around good guy, and fame never changed that. That's great. Because of your very kind comment, I'm going to start Luck this evening.

      Thanks again!

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  12. Glad you're going to start watching "Luck". Also, I'm with you all the way regarding "The Last Rites of Joe May". It wasn't written for him, but you would think it had been. He came across the script through his production company and really made it work by getting the location changed from Brooklyn to Chicago. Haven't watched it again since his passing but an incredible movie and an inspired performance.

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    1. Ah, I love hearing things like that. Makes me appreciate the film, and Dennis' work in it, that much more.

      I'll post a comment here and let you know when I finish Luck. Thanks again for the comments and stories!

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  13. I loved him in everything he popped up in. Especially Snatch and Get Shorty. He was hilarious in those. Now i really want to check out The Last Rites of Joe May though. I had never even heard about that movie until now.

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    1. I hadn't heard of Joe May before researching this post. But man, take my word for it, he is sensational in the movie. Watching that movie (a few days after his passing) made me realize that we had lost a truly great actor. I don't know if you have Netflix Instant, but it's on there right now. I can't recommend it highly enough.

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