Danny Aiello needs no introduction. A tall man with a strong physique, he is easily identifiable from his memorable character work in dozens of films. He has built a solid reputation in the industry and moved audiences with deft portrayals of strong Italian men in a crisis.
He reprises that role in Brooklyn Lobster as Frank Giorgio, a father that struggles to hold onto the family business while his family drifts apart. The independent film, which was written and directed by Kevin Jordan, premieres in Hoboken at Pier A as part of “Movies Under the Stars series” on Friday, June 23 at 9 p.m. Come early to meet actor Danny Aiello and director Kevin Jordan for a Q & A.
A feast of fish
Last week, Danny Aiello was at his regular table at Tutta Pasta, where he is familiar to locals and fans alike. Town officials came to welcome Aiello, who frequents the Italian eatery. He has been in many popular movies with top-notch directors (like Woody Allen and Spike Lee) including: Dinner Rush, City Hall, Moonstruck, Harlem Nights, The Godfather II, and The Purple Rose of Cairo. His role in Do the Right Thing earned him an Academy Award nomination.
“I don’t own the place,” said Aiello when asked about owning Tutta Pasta. “I love it. I’ve been coming here for years. It’s an extraordinary town.”
Aiello and Jordan held the seafood feast last Thursday with lobsters from Jordan’s family business to promote the Hoboken premiere of Brooklyn Lobster.
Many of the guests dug into large broiled lobsters, except for Aiello, who had a dish of veal prepared for him. According to Aiello, he doesn’t like fish or lobster and because of that he almost turned down the movie, which initially had a working title of “Lobster Farm.”
“The reason I almost turned it down was because I don’t like fish,” said Aiello. “Now I certainly wouldn’t eat them because I have respect for them.”
Yet Aiello needn’t have worried. His character doesn’t eat lobster either.
The movie
Danny Aiello portrays Frank, the stubborn patriarch of the Giorgio family, whose life has been thrown a bad curve when the bank that loaned him the money for a restaurant addition to his lobster business goes under.
Frank struggles to keep his life together while pieces of it fall apart. His wife Maureen (played by Jane Curtin) decides to leave him and they are forced to sell their home. Frank’s son Michael (played by Daniel Sauli) returns home at Christmas and discovers his childhood home gone and finds himself drawn into the family drama. Frank’s daughter Lauren (played by Marisa Ryan) is the peacekeeper, who has remained loyal to her father and the family business.
According to writer/director Kevin Jordan, the story is loosely based on his own family and their struggle to keep their lobster business afloat.
Jordan’s first film, Smiling Fish and Goat of Fire, won the “Discovery Award” at the Toronto Film festival. His work has gotten noticed by Martin Scorsese, who put “Martin Scorsese presents” on top of the credits for Brooklyn Lobster.
When Jordan wrote the script he had Danny Aiello in mind for the part of his father and arranged for Aiello to get the script. With Aiello on board, the pieces started to fall into place. Jordan was able to make the film for under $200,000 and filmed in 24 days.
The tour
The Hoboken premiere is only one of the stops for the road tour, which is going city to city. According to Aiello, he loved the opportunity to be in the film.
“It’s a film that many actors today don’t have an opportunity to do,” said Aiello. “It’s a movie not done by the big studios. Thank God for people like Kevin.”
According to Aiello, the idea of working on an independent film is appealing to him. Working with a new director can give an actor something different, which can make the work seem brand new.
“I feel very secure because I’ve worked with a lot of great directors,” said Aiello. “The critical analysis has been outstanding,” said Aiello. “The critics were all complimentary and we still couldn’t get distribution. My feeling is that on a local level people will respond to it.”
“It’s an opportunity to let people know it does exist,” he added.
For the tour, Aiello will make personal appearances promoting the film.
“I try to help [Jordan] whenever I can,” said Aiello. “It helps when the actor comes.”
On June 23, Hudson County residents will have the opportunity to hear the dynamic Aiello discuss the film in the town he has grown to love.
“Hoboken is more than just Sinatra,” said Aiello. “It’s Danny Aiello, it’s Tutta Pasta. It’s Fiore’s deli where I get my mozzarella. I love it. It reminds me of the West Village. This is my New York.”
Brooklyn Lobster premieres in Hoboken on Friday, June 23 at 9 p.m. at Pier A as part of “Movies Under The Stars,” which is sponsored by Mayor Roberts, The City of Hoboken, Projected Images, the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, JACK FM, and Toll Brothers. Additional sponsors include: Shop Rite, The Applied Companies, The Provident Bank Foundation and more. For more information on the series, please visit: www.hobokennj.org or call (201) 420-2207. For information on the movie, visit: www.brooklynlobster.com.