Robert Davi turns in a killer performance in Ariel Vromen’s crime thriller, The Iceman, portraying Leo Marks, a character inspired by Anthony Gaggi, the captain of the Gambino crime family.  Opening in theaters on May 3^rd, The Iceman chronicles the life of notorious hitman Richard Kuklinski and stars Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans and Ray Liotta.  In powerful roles that range from a James Bond villain to an FBI profiler, Davi has made a career out of playing tough guys both on the big screen and on television, and he’s worked with some of the most respected actors in Hollywood.

At a highly entertaining roundtable interview, Davi discussed his character, the appeal of the genre, getting his start in the business with Frank Sinatra in Contract on Cherry Street, the enduring ties between show business and organized crime, rubbing elbows with made men at Café Roma, and winding up on the cover of the LA Times Magazine in a feature article entitled “The Mob Goes to Hollywood.”  He also talked about launching his professional singing career, headlining The Venetian in Las Vegas, his new album Davi Sings Sinatra:  On the Road to Romance, and the script he recently finished writing.  Hit the jump to read more.

[With A Good Day to Die Hard set to open this Thursday, we'll be taking a look back at the first four Die Hard movies.  These reviews will contain spoilers since the movies have been out for years.]

When I hear the words “best action movie”, I immediately think of Die Hard.  No other film even comes close.  It is pure action removed from sci-fi or any other genre.  Even though there were plenty of blockbuster action movies in the 1980s, Die Hard is unique in how it constantly puts its hero at a massive disadvantage.  To the extent that a blockbuster will allow, John McClane (Bruce Willis) is the everyman.  Schwarzenegger and Stallone were the physically imposing heroes, but Willis brought a scrappy quality to McClane even though the character’s actions verged on superhuman.  Although he’s very hard to kill, McClane is both the reluctant hero and the ideal 1980s American hero.  From its unforgettable protagonist, Die Hard took on an identity that made it distinct and enduring.

When I was a kid, I wanted to belong to a group like The Goonies.  Like most creative types, I was an outsider, so the film and characters spoke to me.  Smartly, there was one of every type to make all sorts of misfits feel at home.  Does it stand the test of time?  Can you go home again?  Find out after the jump:

Warner Home Video has officially announced The Goonies 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on DVD and Blu-ray.  Scheduled for release on November 2, the new edition will feature:

• Cast commentary with Director and all seven actors
• The Making of the Goonies documentary
• Cyndi Lauper music video “The Goonies ‘R Good Enough”
• Outtakes
• Includes new board game, original movie storyboard reproductions, 1985 souvenir magazine reprint, and reprint of 2009 Empire Magazine article with cast photos and updates

The Goonies is one of my favorite films, and I’ll admit the new edition sounds cool.  Check out the cover art and a new trailer for the Blu-ray after the jump: