Dominick and Eugene (1988)

Director:

Robert M. Young

Writers:

Corey Blechman (writer)
Danny Porfirio (story)

Release Date:

13 October 1988 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Two brothers are about to discover what they need most in their lives...each other.

Plot:

Dominick and Eugene are twins, but Dominick is a little bit slow due do an accident in his youth. They live together...

Plot Keywords:

Brother Brother Relationship | Child Abuse | Arrest | Bar | Brain Damage

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ray Liotta	...	Eugene 'Gino' Luciano
Tom Hulce	...	Dominick 'Nicky' Luciano
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Jennifer Reston
Robert Levine	...	Dr. Levinson
Todd Graff	...	Larry Higgins
Bill Cobbs	...	Jesse Johnson
Mimi Cecchini	...	Mrs. Gianelli
Tommy Snelsire	...	Mikey Chernak
Mary-Joan Negro	...	Theresa Chernak
Tom Signorelli	...	Father T.
John Romer	...	Choir Director
David Perry	...	Television Announcer
Joe Maruzzo	...	Guido
R. Scott Peck	...	Joe
Charles Susan	...	Leon

Also Known As:

Nicky and Gino (UK)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Sweden:11 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

To help him stay in character, Tom Hulce left Dominick's tooth in even when not filming.

Quotes:

[Looking at a crucifixion statue.]
Dominick Luciano: If I was God, I wouldn't let that happen to my boy.

Movie Connections:

Features The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)

Soundtrack:

Down At The Hardrock Cafe

Do yourself a favor....

Where to begin? Is it because it has two powerfully realistic performances that make the viewer forget that it's only a movie? Is it because it's filmed in my hometown? I must admit that it was because it was shot AND set in Pittsburgh that I went to see it immediately when it was released but I soon saw past all the familiar sights of the South Side to watch a drama unfold as if these were real people that I might have even known.

Tom Hulce's portrayal of Nicky was so riveting that even without words he was able to evoke emotion that spoke volumes -- that's talent deserving of the highest accolade. He is a man-child living to please those around him; especially the one person he has depended on his whole life - his twin brother who himself is deeply committed to becoming a doctor and fearing that leaving his mentally handicapped brother to pursue his dream will mean breaking his own and Nicky's heart.

Ray Liotta as Eugene plays out his own inner struggle to succeed but not at the expense of his brother's love with such poise that it hurt to watch when he would reprimand Nicky for not using common sense in his daily life. He wants to believe that his brother is capable of caring for himself but Nicky repeatedly gets himself into scrape after scrape. Add to the mix Larry, Nicky's partner on the garbage truck. He is the little devil that sits on Nicky's shoulder feeding him reasons to believe that his brother is "dumping him like a rock" when he begins tutoring a fellow medical student. This only upsets Nicky and forces Gino to admit that he is leaving.

This movie speaks to many issues -- brotherly love, family ties, independence, jealousy and abuse, all delivered with understated grace. This is a top shelf film that makes one happy and sad by the end. There aren't enough movies like this.