Mafioso (DVD)

Mafioso (1962) starring Alberto Sordi. An Italian factory executive, living in Milan with his wife and two young daughters, decides to take a vacation back to his home in Sicily. While he's there, the mob decides to call in a favor, and he finds himself in the unlikely role of Mafia assassin. Tapped by a Sicilian don to perform a hit in New York, the inexperienced Antonio (Sordi) must somehow carry out his mission, but is not emotionally prepared to be a hit man. Walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy, this film succeeds as a darkly humorous look at a time in our history. From another angle, it's "The Godfather" seen through the other end of the telescope. My only complaint is that the ending seems a bit abrupt -- one of the few times I've criticized a film for being too short. Grade: A-