Hey Vinny

I miss those metro channels.. there were 3 of these which were carried by Cablevision in New York near the city. One devoted to live events around the city.. one to traffic and weather... and I think another was Sports or a C-Span like coverage of book signings or fashion events. During fashion weeks in New York they reassemble the team for coverage which is carried on a local new york college TV station, but it's too bad that these 3 went away as they were wonderful. I watched CAR 54 and a show called NYPD which was a shot on 16 mm cop show from the late 60s starring Jack Warden and Frank Converse. Today I was just looking up Vinny Vella so I could see about this documentary they used to show sometimes once or twice a day during their weekly schedule. I must admit I watched at least a bit of it every time. It's a moving film .. especially in terms of Vinnie's relationship with his parents.. his father being gentle and indulging and his mother being angry and almost ambivalent towards him in response to his inveterate trouble making.. meanwhile Vinnie describes feeling totally abandoned and misunderstood when he is sent to a Catholic Boys Home. The segment is introduced by Vinnie's friend..a police officer of all things who is one of the most interesting and authentic of the films many interesting characters. This is a wonderful film... perhaps something that every TO BE parent of a boy needs to see. It's been about six years since the metro channels went away and I STILL smile and my brother and I still chuckle just when we try to describe the prank that Vinnie pulls as a kid in Catholic School on Yearbook photo day. I'll never look at a sweater the same way again.

I second the above writer in saying that this is a film you should track down... now that they have NETFLIX I guess that won't be so hard nowadays. I may just order a rental of it myself before summer is over.

I kept on seeing Hey Vinny when it was on Metro and loved it. I just heard that is finally out on DVD. I am getting it for myself and as gifts on all my new yorker friends who left and are missing the flavor of the city. This movie is funny,emotional and is shot beautifully. A must for all die hard newyorkers. I have actually spotted Vinny in nolita and he is larger than life. He is a rare breed in New York now, especially in Manhattan where gentrification is going full speed. A true New York character that portrays what this city is about, humour and heart with more than a touch of chutzpah. John Huba has that eye to make everything poetic but still captures the soul of Vinny and his story. We rated it a ten.