My Cousin Vinny
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My Cousin Vinny
Directed by: Jonathan Lynn (also directed Clue and Nuns on the Run)
Starring:
Joe Pesci
Ralph Macchio
Marisa Tomei
Mitchell Whitfield
Fred Gwynne (his last role before he died in 1993)
Released: March 13, 1992
Budget: $11M ($21.7M in 2021
Box Office: $64.1M ($126.4M in 2021)
Ratings: IMDb 7.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes 86%
Metacritic 68% Google Users 91%
Marisa Tomei won an academy award for best supporting actress for her role in this film.
First time you saw the movie?
Plot:
We open with a car driving down what looks to be a hot county road. THey're obviously young guys on a road trip, and they enter Alabama. They're observing some very southern sites of dirt for sale, roadside produce stands, and free manure. They stop in a gas station for cheap supplies. The boys leave and Bill realizes he accidentally stole some tuna, just then a police car pulls them over, and Stan is worried about being executed. The officer pulling them over pulls a shot gun and orders them out of the car. Cut to them being in a line up, still convinced its still about tuna. Back at the gas station the boys stopped at, there is a body on the ground and Sheriff Farley confirms someone killed Jimmy Willys. Back at the station, Sheriff Farley talks to Bill about the murder, but Bill thinks they're still talking about the tuna. Interrogating Stan, he explains why he didn't stop him. In the sheriffs office, Bill explains what happened with the tuna. When the Sheriff asks when did he shoot the clerk, and Bill finally realizes what is actually happening. They get to make their phone calls, and Bill calls his mom. He explains what he thinks is happening, how corrupt everyone is and Stan adds the KKK members and they sleep with their sisters... To no ones amusement. Bill tells Stan they have a lawyer in the family, his cousin Vinny. Cue the red car coming in town. Everyone watching and gossiping about it. They get out and as they're looking at the car, a man offers some info about mud in his tires. The boys are being taken to jail, with all the heckling you'd expect. Locked in, they don't seem to appreciate their accommodations. Stan is freaked out about becoming Bubbas sex slave... Unlike Tucker, who looked forward to it. Vinny arrives, and begins talking to Stan and it's another double misunderstanding... Vinny trying to understand what happened, Stan thinks he's there for the rape. Vinny gets pissed with Stan, and wakes up Bill, who hugs him, and Stan realizes what happened. They're in an interview room, and Stan and Bill realize Vinny has no experience and has only been practicing law for 6 weeks, after studying for the bar for 6 years, and taking it 6 times.
S:
-They show a produce stand in the opening shots, and I definitely recognized one of them. We stop there when we head to the beach. It was the one with the peaches painted on the side of it.
-The old slush puppy machine takes me back.
-We should have a bell or an award when someone says the name of the movie IN the movie.
-Y'all ever get stuck in the mud?
-Beechum county is NOT one of Alabamas 67 counties.
In the courthouse, Vinny is in the judges office, the judge, who notes his informal appearance, proceeds to ask him a few questions about his history. He claims to have defended the first guy arrested for the Son of Sam killings. He proceeds to tell him how his court room is treated, and that he not time for improper procedure. He gives Vinny a book about Alabama law procedure, and we cut to Vinny and Mona pulling into the roadside motel. As Mona Lisa gets out of the shower, Vinny is studying his law book, she offers to help, but he declines. They're then abruptly awaken by a steam whistle for the saw mill. They go to the diner and get "breakfast"... He questions the grits, as many non-southerners do. They arrive in court and we meet Jim Trotter III, the prosecutor, he's with the Sheriff. They start getting ready and share a knowing smile. The judge enters and asks Vinny how his clients plead. As he begins to talk, he is cut off with the Judge telling him how to address the court, questions his clothing choices. He tells him to look "lawyer-ly". He begins to explain the confusion from the shoplifting and murder charge; the judge continues to chide Vinny because he wont plead. His sarcastic response catches him a contempt of court charge, the judge sets bail for the boys, and instructs the balif to take Vinny in custody also. On the bus back to jail, the boys look distraught. Mona Lisa bails him out and they discuss the gravity of the case. They sit at a roadside bbq stand, and they continue to discuss the case, and give an analogy of learning on job about cars and rebuilding a carburetor. Mona says she was stiffed of some money after trying to hustle someone; Vinny takes exception to this and they arrive at the pool hall. Record scratch when they enter, she points out JT as the guy who didn't pay. They debate and go through options A, B, which Vinny chooses B, to kick his ass and get the money. But JT doesn't have the money, so they leave. Stan is freaking out about the arraignment and wants to get rid of Vinny. At the motel, Vinny is studying, and they argue about the dripping faucet. There is too much back and forth, but it ends up dead on balls accurate, as they argue and flirt... They kiss, and cut to the whistle waking Vinny up. Back in court, an elderly woman tells what she heard and saw as far as the shooting went, identified the boys. Next, a man tells the same story, seeing the boys and their car. Another man agrees. The sheriff reads the misunderstood confession from Bill, repeating, "I shot the clerk." Judge finds they can proceed to trial, and asks Vinny why he's not dressed appropriately, which he replies, "you were serious about that"... cut to him riding on the prison bus again. Stan is mad about the arraignment, and Lisa bails him out again. They argue about her not backing him up.
S:
-Marisa Tomei was 28 when she filmed this; Joe Pesci was 49!
-Do y'all eat grits?
-Best roadside bbq you've ever had?
They're in a new hotel, and Vinny admits to being scared. Lisa listens and understands. They're soon awoken by screaming pigs, much to his disbelief. Stan convinces Bill to meet with the public defender. Bill meets with Vinny, to tell him he's going with a public defender as well. Vinny tells Bill how he'll win the case using a building analogy. Bill and Stan argue about using Vinny or the public defender. Bill explains why Vinny will do well, when the lights flicker as an inmate is electrocuted in ol' sparky. JT shows up telling Vinny he's got the $200, and he calls him on it being a bunch of $1s with a $20 on the outside. He goes inside and goes to bed. As he sleeps, a train comes and rattles everything, waking them up. Lisa laughs. Vinny is in Jims office, they talk about their past, why Vinny because a lawyer. Jim invites him hunting, which he agrees to. Lisa is not thrilled with it. In the car, Vinny asks for Jims files, which he gives him. Back at the hotel, he's very happy with himself getting the files. Lisa is reading the procedure book and tells him Jim had to give him the files in disclosure, which he obviously didn't know. Vinny questions the witnesses, Jim questions potential jurors. In the judges office, he questions why there is no record of him practicing law in new York, Vinny explains that he uses a stage name, Jerry Gallow, a prominent lawyer back in New York. Lisa then informs him that Jerry Gallow is dead. At Jims hunting cabin, Lisa goes off about not being able to help him, not getting married, her biological clock... Vinny shoots back about his stress too. Cut to them sleeping in the cabin when something outside starts screaming, leading Vinny to come out shooting. They are then shown sleeping in the car, and a thunder storm rolls through. In the morning, as he tries to leave, hes stuck in the mud. Getting out, he slips and falls, much like Chris when he doesn't use that walker the Dr told him to... Getting into town, JT says he's got the $200, and Vinny tackles him, taking the money. In court, they're all waiting when he enters wearing a tuxedo, which everyone laughs at. He explains why he's wearing the silly suit and they verbally spar. The trial begins.
S:
-Why does Vinny have just a deck of cards with him? And aren't you supposed to empty your pockets when you go into a jail.
-Are the defendants usually in the court when they are questioning jurors?
Jim has his opening statement. Vinny, asleep, gives his brief opening statement that everything Jim just said is bullshit. It's stricken from the record. The public defender gets up to give his opening statement, and can't speak, even worse than me reading this script. The first witness gives his testimony about seeing the boys. The public defender asks him some questions about his eyesight, which he aces. When Vinny is questioning him, he questions him about the two Utes... which the judge questions what a ute is... Moving on, Vinny seizes on the time it takes to cook grits and his time frame. Vinny goes to jail and finally gets a good nights sleep. The second witness, Vinny shows him pictures of his view from his house and that he couldn't have seen the boys accurately. Mrs. Riley on the stand, Vinny hounds on her glasses. He demonstrates she can't see at even 50 feet. Jim calls Vinny saying he got new evidence and he should be scared. The next day, he has a federal forensic analyst in to testify. Vinny objected, which the judge overruled. He testifies the wheels and tire tracks are the same. The judge calls for a break, and tells him Jerry Gallo is dead, and the Vinny is Jerry Callo. At lunch, Lisa wants to help still, and he belittles her and the photos she took. She leaves angry, as she should. As he sits back down, he says he knows hes missing something, and the camera pans down to a photo Lisa took... Giving us viewers a clue. Vinny questions the forensic analyst, and sits down. As the judge is talking, he notices something in the photos, he asks for the sheriff to help him with something, and he tries to get Lisa in court, which she doesn't want to do. Vinny calls Lisa to the stand as an expert witness. Jim objects to Lisa and her qualifications and wants to question her. He does so, specifically asking the correct ignition timing for a 1955 bel air chevy, 327 cu in engine and a 4 barrel carburetor. She explains: SOUND BITE. Vinny submits a photo she took of the tire tracks, and he asks if the defenses case that 2 sets of guys in 2 metalic mint green 1964 buick skylark convertibles, holds water. She notices something in the photo and says the defense is wrong. She testifies the tire marks couldn't have been made by the skylark, but by a 1963 pontiac tempest. She explains: SOUND BITE. Jim questions his forensic expert, and the judge looses his patience with him, wanting to move forward. Vinny recalls the federal analyst. He confirms everything Lisa said is correct and that the buick the boys were driving couldn't have made those tracks. The sheriff comes back in teh court and nods to Vinny, who calls him to the stand. The sheriff searched for the 63 pontiac tempest, and found 2 boys were arrested in Georgia in the same car, same tires, and a 357 magnum revolver in the car. The defense rests. Jim then dismisses all charges against the boys. Elation throughout, everyone hugs, Vinny and Lisa kiss. and the judge tries to keep order. As Vinny is trying to leave quickly, everyone wants to thank and congratulate him. The judge catches him after-all, and says hes honored to shake his hand. Vinny, confused, asked Lisa what happened and she admitted calling his Judge-friend to send a fax to the judge and how good Jerry Callow is. He's upset, because he wanted to win all by himself. As they drive off, and argue about getting married or not and the credits roll.
Top Five Trivia of the movie:
TOP 5
Stephen:
1 Breakfast club
2 T2
3 Sandlot
4 Back to the Future
5 Mail order brides
Chris:
1. sandlots
2. T2
3. trick r treat
4. rocky horror picture show
5. hubie halloween
Trey:
Meatballs
Boondocks Saints
Mail Order Brides
Sandlot
Lone Survivor
Tucker:
1. Beer review
2. T2
3. Gross Pointe Blank
my cousin vinny
5. Mail order brides
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