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The Public Eye

Play trailer Poster for The Public Eye R 1992 1h 38m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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61% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 50% 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 way in over his head when the Mob gets involved.
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The Public Eye

Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 01/18/2013
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. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
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. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 04/02/2024
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. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/05/2020
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. Go to Full Review
Vanessa Letts The Spectator 07/25/2018
The film's visual rhythm is a key reflection of its story, so that neither the lush beauty nor the arresting squalor is gratuitous. Go to Full Review
Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant 04/16/2018
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Blu B 07/17/2024 Like it has it's moments and is kind of like a lesser version of Nightcrawler (2014) I guess. There really isn't anything broken about it though but nothing particulary good either. First off Pesci & Hershey don't really have much chemistry at all. Bogie & Bacall these two are not. The dialouge also isn't anything special so when they are together which is a lot it feels very flat. Second, the music in this is kind of boring and very flat the entire time. Third, the direction isn't anything special. There is a solid amount of production value, set pieces and it feels like the 40's perfectly. But, the camerawork is basic, it's not really moody or atmosphereic, and none fo the acting is that special. The plot is kind of unique and I think it gets a litle involved all for nothing. He shows up to take a pic of the massacre after all that investigiating. And I think the attempt at having him have a personal stake in it falls flat because we aren't that invested in the relationship to begin with Hershey & Pesci. And besides that it feels like he doesn't really have an effect on events and were just watching it unfold (which is the point) but feels like it leaves a lot to be desired. This is trying to be like a crime solving mystery and it just isn't tha interesting half the time because the subject matter is kind of boring. (A bunch of gangsters are fighting over gas ration control) and it's just boring to look at a lot of times because were just standing around talking about stuff leading to the next clue and it just isn't moody or sharp. Just ok enough to keep you watching. There's way better films about the papperazzi, and better crime mysteries. Skip this even if your a die hard PEsci fan I don't think there is anything special here. See more Steve D 09/11/2023 It just comes off as sleezy . See more Shioka O 12/02/2022 Interesting to see a film made for Joe Pesci! Another forgotten gem featuring famous supporting actor as a lead. This look like a smaller mob film, a period drama, and this has clean photography and direction. I would loved to see this story more focus on Bernstein's profession and work ethics in journalism+photo, and filmed in B&W. See more 09/14/2021 Vagamente baseado no fotógrafo do New York, Arthur "Weegee" Fellig , e algumas das fotos do filme foram tiradas por Fellig, a trama é meio agarrada, parada, lenta, tinha potencial, trama interessante, pouco desenvolvida, pouco atrativa… See more 06/02/2015 Wasted potential. If the script were better, this would be a classic. As it stands, it's a curiosity. Pesci does the best he can with what he's got, and it's well shot. That's about all I can say about it. See more 03/21/2014 Really think this is a classic. See more Read all reviews
The Public Eye

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Movie Info

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 way 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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