Not For Nothing (2025)

 Not for Nothing is a indie film with heart.  If feels like Philly and it all takes place in South Philadelphia, which is a strong character in itself.  I've been interested in this film since way back when they were filming it here in. Philly.  I never got a chance to see it when it played here at the Philadelphia film festival, nor did I catch it when it played in some theaters here in Philly, but after many hurtles they found distribution from Buffalo 8 and it is playing on various streaming platforms.  I saw it on Verizon, and it's on Amazon Prime as well.   It's good and if you're from Philly it just feels right.  All the mannerisms, and accents are authentic because it was made by South Philly people.  Some have compared this to Goodfellas, but I'd like to compare it to those serials from the past such as "Our Gang", or "The Bowery Boys".  

The story is simple after a girl that our crew knew dies of an overdose our gang tries to find whose responsible.  What they find is a cast of low life characters who deal with death and poison their own neighborhood.  Things go awry and it doesn't go too well for our cast of characters, and what a cast of characters it is.  

here are some but by no means all.  There is Mark Webber (Bobby), Mike Bash (Mikey), Lauren Lavera (Kelly), Vic Dibettito (Joe), Nick Lanciano (Dino), Danny Donnely (Dirty Pete), Peter Patrickios as Dommy is absolutely a standout in this film.  There's Brandon E. Brooks as Grace, Natalie Stone as Rosanne, and I could go on and on, but suffice it to say everyone in this film is great and stands out, and I have feeling it's because of the directors the late Frank Tartaglia, and Timothy Dowlin.  Both do a fantastic job in directing the film.  There are so many little stories in this film that makes it so believable.  Each character is a story in itself, but them interacting together is what sells the film.

This film started when covid hit, and they had to adjust to that and take precautions, and while completing the film Frank Tartaglia passed away suddenly, so the film had an uphill battle to get made, but with the dedication of it's crew & cast it was completed and has recently found a distributor.  The film feels authentic.  Philly made and proud of it.  It's a film that really deserves to stand out.  All the preformances are good, and convincing.  Philadelphia is also that unnamed character with its gritty streets, and beautiful shots of South Philadelphia it looms big in the film.  It's why I like it a lot.  There are some funny bits in the film, and as I said Peter Patrickios does an absolutely stellar performance as Dommy.  The cast in the bar are also funny and especially the scene where some of the goodfella's won't to know how to make an app, so they can make some money off it,  It's a hilarious scene.  Nick Lanciano's expression as Dino is priceless.  It's those little scenes that make the film so believable.  Lauren Lavera is beautiful and very convincing as Kelly the bartender and the love interest for Mikey (Mike Bash).

All in all the film is one that I highly recommend.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Michael Regalbuto as the director of cinematography.  The cinematography is gorgeous and makes you feel Philly, and as I have said Philadelphia is a character in this film.  The films cast bring to life the city of Philadelphia and it's beauty & it's underbelly.   This is good filmmaking ladies and gentlemen.  A lot of blood, sweat & tears went into the making of this film, and it shows.  A complete professional cast, and a film with heart.  It is unfortunate that Frank Tartaglia had passed away, but I feel it is because of him that we love our cast of misfits & we care about them.  His love for South Philly shows, and it is the industries loss in not having him around.  His unique look at Philly is it's soul & I just wish I could have known him.  The one thing I do know is that Mr. Tartaglia made it for his brother Joe who he lost several years ago, and if anything the two brothers are together again up in heaven laughing and enjoying the films success. If anything you boys done good, and thank you for making an absolutely classic film about South Philly.  Go rent it or buy it.  I know I would love to own it on a Blue Ray someday because this film will be a classic and I guarantee that.  Streaming on Verizon, Amazon Prime Video, Plex, & Fandango.