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From: rdd@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.reviews
Subject: REVIEW: FAMILY BUSINESS
Summary: r.a.m.r. #00688
Keywords: author=Dorsett,xpost
Message-ID: <3063@cbnewsj.ATT.COM>
Date: 28 Dec 89 18:07:14 GMT
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Reply-To: rdd@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett)
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Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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			       FAMILY BUSINESS
		       A film review by Robert Dorsett
			Copyright 1989 Robert Dorsett

     FAMILY BUSINESS stars Sean Connery as an elderly burglar in New York.
Dustin Hoffman appears as his estranged son, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew 
Broderick as *his* son.

     The dynamics of the film are complicated.  Suffice it to say that
Connery's character is a professional burglar.  Hoffman's used to be one as
well, but  gave it up, in favor of "legitimate" business.  There is a conflict
between  father and son.  Broderick is portrayed as a smart kid who
mysteriously  drops out of a master's degree program--to "join the family
business."  His father isn't very happy about that, but his grandfather is
supportive.  The rest of the movie deals with a caper and the various conflicts
among the three men.

     This is a relatively serious movie, with good characterizations all
around.  It's the first "serious" film Connery's been in in a LONG time (he
tends to favor action/adventure films, which he invariably shines in).
Broderick is surprisingly good as the grandson.  Hoffman's well, Hoffman.
Everyone has a nasty side to himself: this isn't a gooey-feel-good Christmas
movie.

     Don't get the impression that this is another THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY.
(which was also a good movie)  It isn't.  

Rating: 8/10.