Dominick and Eugene

“Dominick and Eugene” was recommended to me as a good study in family relationships. That it is, but it has a larger amount of disturbing material than I was expecting.

“Nicky” Luciano (Tom Hulce) is borderline retarded from a childhood injury. His job as a garbage collector puts food on the table and helps to send his twin brother “Gino” (Ray Liotta) through medical school. They’ve always been close and mutually supportive; but now Gino must either leave Nicky behind while he does his residency, or uproot him and take him to another city. Also, Gino has a new love interest, fellow intern Jennifer (Jamie Lee Curtis).

Warnings: This film cannot be watched without emotional involvement, and there are a lot of heavy themes to wade through in order to find out how the problem of Gino’s residency is resolved. Profanity is thick at times. Nicky suffers many indignities (harassment from kids, a co-worker trying to get him drunk and hook him up with a hot date to “make him a man,” a drug dealer using him as an unsuspecting courier). There are several instances of implied sex, some violence, and a subplot of serious child abuse. To see the central theme of brotherly love (which is worthwhile) played out, you must also take the rest of the package.

Now that I know where to fast forward, I’d probably watch this again sometime. Of the films I’ve seen on this theme, it’s neither the best nor the worst, although Hulce’s performance is quite outstanding.