What makes it different from others?

good back-story, and good acting

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I've never rated this movie that high but I've gone back to it three times since it came out about 15 years ago on tape, so maybe I am underrating this. There still is no DVD of it, at least in Region I, and that's frustrating. There's something intriguing about this story that drives me back to it.Perhaps that is so because it's about a photographer, something I did, too, while being in the newspaper business for years and an art form I've always enjoyed. The story also takes place in the 1940s and I love the style and atmosphere of that era which is beautifully shown here. Joe Pesci is Leon Bernzini or "The Great Bernzini," a newspaper photographer and Barbara Hershey is a mysterious woman who Pesci has the hots for. There is a lot of mystery in here with Hershey's character. Pesci takes gruesome photos, doesn't get involved with anyone but he's willing to make an exception with "Kay Levitz" (Hershey)..... but is she good or bad for him?Sad to say, the filmmakers kind of make a hero out of basically a sleazy guy who has few, if any, morals. ("Bernzy" was "paparazzi" before they invented the word!). The movie also has an unsatisfying ending, particularly with Hershey's character.However, I keep getting drawn back into multiple viewings of this and I'd sure like to see what it looks like with a good DVD transfer.

Without actually researching Bernstein's history, I'll say this movie is a true story. Certainly his work is historically portrayed. Anyone who has ever admired the work of photographers or aspired to photography themselves must see this film. And the story is absolutely fantastic. Certainly, reality is frequently a more exciting subject matter then fantasy in movies. This is also an excellent slice of life from the WWII period of US history. It is a subject all too often ignored in favor of war movies set in Europe. "The Summer of '42" is another interesting period piece.Hat's off to Joe Pesci for his excellent performance in this film.

Remarkable movie, great photography, good script, very good acting, dialogues are superb.I never heard of this movie before i saw it, but i was gripped immediately. Pesci was great as always. The faint, quickly fading smile on his face when she tells him someone referred to him as her boyfriend. Worlds of emotion behind his tiny eyes.A quote i'm not likely to forget and which made my belly hurt from laughing: 'Like the guy (who) used to shovel elephants**t everyday said to the circus-owner: What? Give up showbizniz?Only thing i can't figure out though:*spoiler*Why does sal betray his whole family? What do they have on him?See this movie.

Finally, an understated Joe Pesci performance - but unfortunately it doesn't make up for a paper thin plot, and a remarkable degree of heavy handedness with what plot there is (count how many times that his character is referred to as an animal). The Pesci character THE GREAT BERNSTEIN, is based on the 1940's press photographer WEEGEE, a fact that I don't see mentioned anywhere. Barbara Hershey delivers what must be said to be the finest bosom shots of her career. Does she care about Berstein, is she just using him, who knows. I collect cameras, and it was wonderful for me to see so many of them in use. It's a five star movie for shutterbugs, all others should look elsewhere.