Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace (1991 TV Movie) User Reviews

Good movie, but most people have never seen it

[adoihcj · 6/10 · 29 June 2006]

This is the fact-based story of Gus Farace, a wannabe mobster who kills an undercover federal DEA agent because he thinks he's a drug snitch. At the time the movie was filmed, it was the largest ever federal manhunt in U.S. history (and I believe it still is as of 2006).

In order for the feds to find him, they start harassing known mob associates of Farace to the point where their mob operations are being considerably hindered. The mob is afraid that if Farace is captured, he will give out secret information regarding certain members of the crime family. Therefore, the mob "puts out a contract" on Farace to have him killed before the feds get to him - hence the name Dead (the mob wants him dead) and Alive (the feds want him alive).

The story does a fairly good job of sticking to the facts. If you like mob movies, this one would be worth your while to see.

I have the DVD version of the movie and I think the director (Peter Markle) gives one of the most boring commentaries I've ever heard. There are so many things that happened in this movie (I know because I was an extra) and he never really mentions them. Also, when watching the commentary, he goes for minutes on end without saying one word (and you cannot hear the sound of the movie in the background).

***Spoiler Warning*** In the end, the mob gets to Farace first, pumping him with several bullets.

Last words of the movie

[hwy505 · 5/10 · 7 September 2006]

As in the New York magazine, and in the movie they have an error:

1) New York magazine has a Detective from the 62 Pct stating when asked by a reporter, "How did he (Farace) look?" "Dead" States the detective, "What do you mean dead?", "Dead is dead" states the detective. 2) In the movie they have a DEA agent stating that to another DEA agent.

Both accounts are wrong - the statement was made by one of the first responding officers on the scene, off the record to a reporter. Uniforms were not allowed to comment and referred all questions to DCPI (Deputy Commissioner of Publc Information). As noted in the news conference following the shooting, the responding officers, who also identified the passenger in the car as Farace, were not even allowed in the conference.

Early Samuel L Jackson

[djmike-63474 · 6/10 · 16 January 2023]

When I see Samuel L Jackson name in the credits, I usually check it out. But this is not what you would expect. It's early Sam (I call him Sam, cuz I got it like that lol). He's has hair including the big bald spot. He hasn't picked up the weight (amazing what money, food and age will do to or for you lol). He's in the movie, but they spend the majority of the time trying to find out who killed him. The cast isn't bad, the acting is good. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but what mob movie isn't lol. This is not a movie night flick. Late night, Saturday or Sunday afternoon works. Nuff Said Mike Out. 0.

don't call him "Gus"

[longron43 · 1/10 · 11 June 2012]

years ago we were massively hungover on a Sunday, and found this movie flipping through channels, although under a different name "In The Line of Duty". We were pleasantly surprised to see the king of all bad asses Samuel L. Jackson on screen, pre-"Pulp Fiction" no less. "Maybe this won't suck" we thought. Less than one minute in Tony Danza rolls up and SHOOTS HIM! "What? Tony Danza shot the baddest man alive? He's gonna live right?" Wrong. Which is HILARIOUS considering any cover image I can find for this movie (under either title) has Jackson's face taking 3/4 of the cover. Don't be deceived into thinking you're gonna get some Samuel L. gold, you're not.

The very idea of Danza taking him out kept us watching for 2 hours. Was our patience rewarded? You bet it was. we got to see Tony, rather, "Gus" try and hide utilizing a a fake name ("Nicky") and ridiculous Fabio wig (comedy gold). Then the money shot, Gus goes go on a cocaine fueled rampage when party people made too much noise, and call him by his real name. "It's Nicky you stupid bastard!" I still smile thinking about it. I literally remember nothing more of this movie. It did however inspire us to write a song called "For Tony" which includes the chorus "don't call me Gus"

Mobs and cops

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 9 April 2015]

I saw this as part of the In the Line of Fire series of films and its loosely based on true facts. However the interesting part is when we have Samuel L Jackson at the beginning who plays the DEA agent shot dead by Gus Farace (Tony Danza) a ruthless bad guy freshly released from jail.

Once Jackson is gone so will your interest in the film despite the best efforts of Ted Levine playing agent from the US Attorney's office who leads the FBI manhunt which includes harassing the mob who in turn go after Farace to silence him.

Tony Danza seems to be having fun as playing the low rent gangster, makes a change from Who's the Boss I guess but the actors are hampered down by a poor and mundane script and the film seems overlong.