Watch The Public Eye For Free

Too much of everything

Absolutely the worst movie.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The Public Eye, is one of many movies advertised with it's poster up, yet avoided a cinema release. It's one film, you don't want to avoid. Pesci plays an avid cameraman, Bernzy, who's always first on the scene to flash his camera, yet plays a very lonely type, who on his latest shoot, gets involved with a woman, Hershey, who implores him to find out who killed her husband, where soon, he's in over his head, with some high up, corrupt and powerful dudes, coming after him. After all, it is 1940, and the backdrops are awesome, where this little gem of a drama, offers a lot of color and taste, and it's great to see Pesci, a so underused actor (nothing can top his performance in Goodfellas) steer this one. Is he doing it all for her, cause he's smitten by her? Probably. Is she using him? Probably. But it is a cute little partnership, amidst some actions, yet again those 1940 backdrops are awesome. Sadly this movie is of course, one of those, that deserves much more recognition. If still able to spot it now, in the world of DVDS, or if by such a slight chance, you happen to spot it on sale on VHS. Buy it. I guarantee you'll be glad you did. Watch for Australia's Nick Tate in a cameo.

The Public Eye was an attempt to elevate Joe Pesci to star status from respected character actor in the wake of his acclaimed Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas. Though Pesci did give a great performance in the film, the public was not prepared to buy him as leading man status.The film is really Pesci's show in that there are no really developed characters outside of his in the film. However Robert Zemeckis really did a bang up job in creating the mood and atmosphere of the early 1940s with America just going into World War II.With the USA engaged in the 'war on terror' and no demands being made for civilian sacrifice, it is probably somewhat vague for people who are not our most senior citizens to realize what was being attempted. And curiously enough though the racket that is being investigated is gasoline rationing.Joe Pesci is an independent photo journalist who with police scanner always on is first on the scene for every event in town. He gets asked by this glamorous socialite, Barbara Hershey, who normally wouldn't go near someone like him to check out an acquaintance. The acquaintance is found dead by Pesci and that leads him into a racket involving collusion between gangsters and government employees of the Office of Price Administration to control gasoline with stolen ration cards.Back in that war food and other commodities like gasoline were rationed to the civilian public and the price strictly controlled. This was serious business indeed for those times.Pesci also fancies himself an artist, not just a paparazzi, he sees himself as a Matthew Brady or an Ansel Adams, a recorder of his times and his city. That vain but artistic streak leads him to take some real chances.The Public Eye is a good throwback film to the forties. I can see had this been made post World War II a grown up Mickey Rooney playing Pesci's role.

Well, I've just seen the movie tonight and Pesci is certainly great in it. I finally saw a side of him that I've never seen before. In almost all his other movies, he got on my nerves, but in this one, he managed to make me respect his acting. I have to agree with the other comments. I've never heard of this movie and that's too bad. It's very touching and gave me a feeling of je ne sais quoi... It's a very attractive movie in a quiet sort of way. I don't know. I really enjoyed it and it's too bad that it hasn't been credited as one of Pesci's best (if not THE BEST) movies.

Movies should be able to transport you to the time and place without much effort. "The Public Eye" does so. I saw this in -- of all places -- a redeye bus trip from New York to DC, and this only enhanced the viewing enjoyment. This is definitely a movie to "get into the mood" for 40's noir, down to the gritty life of the City After Dark.This one keeps getting overlooked as one of the best of the 90's. See this one.