Ten Benny

Why is it, exactly, that every third cinematic tyro decides to head for the Old Neighborhood (inevitably an Italian section of New York or New Jersey) and tell the story of the charismatic loser who gets in over his head and the well-intentioned pals who wind up getting dragged down in his wake? This umpteenth variation on Mean Streets stars rising star Adrien Brody (The Thin Red Line) as Ray, a lowly shoe-store clerk who impulsively borrows ten grand from a local loan shark, intending to collect on a horse and use the proceeds to start his own business. Surprise surprise, his "sure thing" fades in the stretch. Meanwhile, Ray's buddy Mike (Michael Gallagher) is falling for Ray's girlfriend (Sybil Temchen); Ray's other buddy Butchie (Tony Gillan) is loaning him still more cash; and countless audience members (not you, with any luck) are stifling yawns and checking wristwatches. Shot during the summer of 1994, Ten Benny took more than four years to reach a theater near you, before finally landing on video--but the real mystery is that this obvious clunker managed to find distribution at all, especially given its frequent technical ineptitude. Not recommended. (M. D'Angelo)