All three lead characters do excellent jobs, as well as Miss Nicholson, but they cannot rescue this film. The beginning narration is odd and appears to suggest we're going to get a sympathetic and/or humorous take on Staten Islanders and their inferiority complexes. But other than the mobsters being small time, there's nothing in STATEN ISLAND that really distinguishes the people or setting; i.e., they might as well be from any other suburban area.
We understand that the ecology vehicle is not to be taken seriously but then it just disappears. We've not enough background on any three of the leads to truly become interested in any of them, though you can see the clumsy attempts to try and "teach" us about them. And the ending is ridiculous as well as unsatisfying.
In short its just a mess, despite some quirky funny spots. I'm guessing the makers envisioned something like BLOOD SIMPLE. Definitely STATEN ISLAND is an attempt at Cohen Brothers-like suspense with blood and comedy. But this movie falls short in every category.
We understand that the ecology vehicle is not to be taken seriously but then it just disappears. We've not enough background on any three of the leads to truly become interested in any of them, though you can see the clumsy attempts to try and "teach" us about them. And the ending is ridiculous as well as unsatisfying.
In short its just a mess, despite some quirky funny spots. I'm guessing the makers envisioned something like BLOOD SIMPLE. Definitely STATEN ISLAND is an attempt at Cohen Brothers-like suspense with blood and comedy. But this movie falls short in every category.