The Public Eye – 1992 – Crime, Mystery, Drama
Directed by: Howard Franklin
Written by: Howard Franklin
Main Players: Joe Pesci; Barbara Hershey; Stanley Tucci; Jerry Adler; Dominic Chianese; Richard Riehle; Jared Harris
It is the early 1940s. First at the scene of the crime is Leon Bernstein (Pesci). He adjusts the body for a better shot and takes a snap with his all-seeing camera. The police finally show up and make sure he didn’t touch the body. He says of course not…
Bernstein is all about the best shots to sell to the papers, and he runs a small business The Public Eye. He I used to his pictures making the front page, and getting credit as The Great Bernzini (or Bernzi for short). His car trunk is full of cameras and photo equipment, and even a typewriter so he can handle all operational needs on the go.
He will do most anything to get the best shots, even impersonate a priest in order to get a ride in an ambulance with a fresh corpse. As his eye catches the public at the right moments, he snaps up pictures with the captions already written in his mind. Leon has connections all over the city, including mobsters. He uses them all to stay one step ahead of the competition.
So, what happens when Bernzi gets work from club owner Kay Levitz (Hershey) to look into a potential criminal who is causing her trouble? Will murder and mayhem soon follow? Probably. As the FBI and gangsters enter the picture, all bets are off.
The Public Eye is a good story with a main character type which still exists today, despite evolutions in technology. The plot is interesting and unfolds in realistic ways with a few nice twists. Dialogue is solid and the cast is good. Pesci delivers a great performance, and the supporters like Hershey enhance the script.
If you are into noir type crime stories which include some societal observations, check this one out. This story could likely translate to modern times, but it fits its setting perfectly. While I do like the story, with a few more turns and punch ups it likely could have been an overall classic. The crime and mystery elements keep this one interesting throughout its short enough runtime.
I get everybody while they’re alive, or after.
See This If You Liked:
L.A. Confidential; The Big Sleep (1946); The Maltese Falcon (1941); Chinatown (1974); Devil in a Blue Dress; The Big Combo (1955); Out of the Past (1947); The Big Heat (1953); Where the Sidewalk Ends; The Third Man (1949); Nightcrawler
Score:
7.5