The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)

My Review

“The Pope of Greenwich Village” is a dark comedy about two cousins in an Italian neighborhood in New York City whose bungled robbery attracts the attention of both the mob and of law enforcement. Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke are the stars of the show, and hold everyone’s attention throughout the two hour film.

The supporting cast includes some big talent like Daryl Hannah, Geraldine Page, Kenneth McMillan, Burt Young, M. Emmet Walsh, Tony Musante, Jack Kehoe, Philip Bosco, John Finn, and Val Avery. Page was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Director Stuart Rosenberg (“The Amityville Horror” 1979) did an excellent job of managing this project, from an excellent screenplay by Vincent Patrick, who adapted the story from his own 1979 novel of the same name. The watchable and entertaining “The Pope of Greenwich Village” was a flop at the box office for United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was filmed on Manhattan Island and across the river in New Jersey.