‘Find
Me Guilty’ good, but no ‘Godfather’
By
Brenton Lew
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
“Find Me Guilty,” directed and co-written by Sidney Lumet, is based
on the true story of Giacomo “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio. When we think
of family, many of us visualize relatives helping each other and protecting each
other in times of need. Family members would do anything for each other, hold
secrets and memories together and would never provide information to anyone who
could harm their relatives.
Vin Diesel portrays “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio, a member of the New
Jersey Lucchese crime family, who is a loyal family member.
The film begins with a televised newscast of former city mayor of New York
Rudolph Giuliani giving a speech about crimes running rampant throughout the
city. The film transitions to a man who feels all hope is lost as he casually
walks into a modernized suburban house and greets a young teenage girl. Requesting
to see her father, he walks upstairs and shoots Jackie Dee four times.
Fearing retaliation, the man reports all 20 members of the Lucchese crime family
to the police.
Jackie Dee, who has already been sentenced to serve up to 30 years in prison,
is called to the U.S. Attorney’s office for negotiations to provide information
that will send the entire Lucchese crime family to jail for life. His response
is one with dedication, “Jackie Dee don’t rat on nobody.” Becoming
one part of the 20 defendants on trial, he decides to fire his long-time attorney
and defend himself by going “per se.” Among the many serious debates
that arise in court, Jackie Dee begins to enlighten the jury and the audience
with his humor and quick wit. Attempting to display his good personality, he
makes the statement, “I’m no gangster … I’m a gagster.”
As the film continues, there are a series of transformations in both personality
and emotions Jackie Dee is forced to deal with. When he is finally confronted
with the distraught man in court, the man explains himself and family secrets
begin to arise. The verdict may be predictable, but the ending will leave you
in awe.
The film is filled with subtle humor and pulls the audience into an emotional
rollercoaster that focuses on Jackie Dee’s spontaneous reactions and
enormous passion to do nothing but help protect the members of the Lucchese
crime family during the trial.
What was interesting was that the director displays both sides of the story,
both the plaintiff and the defense, going through the same constant flow of
stress and anxieties. As day 627 draws near, 76 charges of criminal acts are
weighed by the jury and Jackie Dee provides his final defense statement to
the court.
Personally, I thought Vin Diesel portrayed “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio
extremely well. The constant change of emotions his character went through,
to the dedication and loyalty his character had to both his real family and
his crime family. I was left rooting for Jackie Dee until the end of the story.
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