The Public Eye

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The Public Eye

R,

1992,

1h 38m,

Crime/

Drama

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61%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Tireless 1940s tabloid photographer Leon The Great Bernzini Bernstein (Joe Pesci) is always first to the scene of the crime, thanks to his uncanny journalistic instincts and the police scanner in his car. Known to his friends as Bernzy, Leon is famous for capturing the gory aftermath of violent crimes that snuff the lives of New York City's famous. Bernzy gets a job offer from gorgeous nightclub owner Kay (Barbara Hershey), but finds he's in over his head when the Mob gets involved.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Jan 18, 2013

The tale's mournful B-movie romanticism-and Pesci's introspective, crablike performance gets under your skin. In its moody, daffy way, The Public Eye gives off an authentic reek of artistic compulsion.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

There are moments in The Public Eye that made me think a little about Casablanca, especially the earlier scenes when Bogart is still mad at Bergman. Higher praise is not necessary.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Apr 2, 2024

2.5/4

The Public Eye’s investigation into the nature of this opportunistic artist is secondary to the film’s mystery, which, though modeled after popular neo-noirs, never quite achieves the same level of interest.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 5, 2020

3/4

The Public Eye is the sort of film that frankly never had any chance of becoming a financial success (it grossed a paltry $3 million against a $15 million budget), yet it's good enough that we're thankful the studio elected to waste money on it anyway.

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Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

Jul 25, 2018

The film's visual rhythm is a key reflection of its story, so that neither the lush beauty nor the arresting squalor is gratuitous.

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Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

Apr 16, 2018

Essentially this is an undeveloped concept, an assorted collection of characters in search of an author. A true sign of its problems emerges from the increasing sense that until the end, the most explosive moments are the popping of flash bulbs.

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Harry L

Oct 2, 2017

Yet one more rare gem is excavated from the multi-layered past of cinema by me. It is one of the best neo-noirs filmed after the 70's with tremendously authentic atmosphere of the 40's. All necessary attributes are here: crooks, gangsters, corrupted policemen, femme fatale, conspiracy, and an anti-hero who ultimately breaks his own code of not 'taking sides with anyone' to help an irresistible beauty as he fells in love with her. And, of course, the iconic mood. It is also one of the best roles of Joe Pesci and probably his best as the lead. This is the perfect gift for lovers of 'black cinema'.

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Howard Franklin

Director

Joe Pesci

Leon Bernstein

Barbara Hershey

Kay Levitz

Stanley Tucci

Sal

Jerry Adler

Arthur Nabler

Jared Harris

Danny

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Synopsis

Tireless 1940s tabloid photographer Leon The Great Bernzini Bernstein (Joe Pesci) is always first to the scene of the crime, thanks to his uncanny journalistic instincts and the police scanner in his car. Known to his friends as Bernzy, Leon is famous for capturing the gory aftermath of violent crimes that snuff the lives of New York City's famous. Bernzy gets a job offer from gorgeous nightclub owner Kay (Barbara Hershey), but finds he's in over his head when the Mob gets involved.

Director: Howard Franklin
Producer: Sue Baden-Powell
Screenwriter: Howard Franklin
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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