Fingers (1978 film)
Fingers is a 1978 American crime drama directed by James Toback, starring Harvey Keitel as a conflicted pianist and mob enforcer. The film explores violence, music, and family and inspired a 2005 French remake.
Overview
Fingers is a 1978 American crime drama directed and co-written by James Toback. The story follows a man who moves between two lives: daytime ambition as a pianist and nighttime work as an enforcer for organized crime. The film blends gritty urban realism with a personal, psychological focus on its protagonist, and it has been noted for the intensity of its central performance and its stark portrayal of moral conflict.
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Characters and Cast
The cast mixes established character actors and newcomers in roles that emphasize family, loyalty, and the pull of violence. The lead is played by Harvey Keitel. Other principal cast members include Danny Aiello, Tanya Roberts, and Jim Brown. Supporting performances by Michael V. Gazzo, Tisa Farrow and Sam Coppola contribute to the film's tense atmosphere.
Themes and Style
Fingers examines dual identity, ambition versus obligation, and the ways music can serve as refuge and aspiration. Toback's direction favors intimate close-ups and a moody, observational style rather than high-budget spectacle. Music—both diegetic piano passages and the film's soundtrack—serves as a recurring motif that contrasts with the violence surrounding the main character.
Production and Release
The film was released by Brut Productions and produced in a late 1970s independent spirit, with a focus on character study over plot-driven action. Its low-key production values emphasize authenticity: urban locations, naturalistic dialogue, and performances that foreground internal conflict. These choices helped the film stand apart from more conventional crime pictures of the era.
Reception and Legacy
On release, Fingers attracted attention for its lead performance and for Toback's uncompromising approach to character and moral ambiguity. Over time the film has maintained interest among viewers and filmmakers for its raw approach to genre material. It is frequently cited as an example of a crime drama that privileges psychological depth over formulaic plotting.
Remake and Influence
The story of a conflicted musician-criminal later inspired a 2005 French adaptation, reinterpreted by director Jacques Audiard and released as a film commonly known in English as The Beat That My Heart Skipped. That film recasts the central tensions in a contemporary French setting while retaining the original's focus on music, identity and divided loyalties.
- Notable cast: Harvey Keitel, Danny Aiello, Tanya Roberts, Jim Brown
- Distributor: Brut Productions
- Related work: 2005 French remake by Jacques Audiard
Questions and answers
Q: Who directed the movie Fingers?
A: The movie Fingers was directed by James Toback.
Q: Who were the main actors in Fingers?
A: The main actors in Fingers were Harvey Keitel, Danny Aiello, Tanya Roberts, Jim Brown, Michael V. Gazzo, Tisa Farrow, and Sam Coppola.
Q: What genre does Fingers belong to?
A: Fingers belongs to the crime drama genre.
Q: When was Fingers released?
A: Fingers was released in 1978.
Q: Who distributed Fingers?
A: Fingers was distributed by Brut Productions.
Q: Was Fingers remade? If so, when and what was the new title?
A: Yes, Fingers was remade as the French movie The Beat That My Heart Skipped in 2005.
Q: Do any of the actors in Fingers also appear in The Beat That My Heart Skipped?
A: No, none of the actors in Fingers appear in The Beat That My Heart Skipped as it was a French remake.
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AlegsaOnline.com Fingers (1978 film) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/34407