p r e f e r r e d r e v i e w e r s :
 |
 |
|
You haven't selected any preferred reviewers. To learn more about customizing your experience, click here.
|
|
|
 |
 |
o t h e r r e v i e w e r s :
|
|
|
Dancing_P [ 7.5 ]
[ add to preferred ]
[ email this review to a friend ]
I’m a sucker for good coming-of-age films, and although this one covers more ground than your average movie of this type, it’s still a very good watch. It chronicles the life of a Jewish family in 50’s Baltimore. The teenage son (Ben Foster) must deal with the new-found integration of African-Americans in schools, the grown son (Adrien Brody) tries to find the mystery blonde girl he met at a party and the father (Joe Mantegna) has to deal with his failing burlesque business and his lottery racket, which owes a grandiose amount of money to a two-bit thug played by Orlando Jones. The film goes through the usual motions of the genre, and in that sense it’s none too original… but it’s so well written and earnest that its familiarity is easily negligible. It’s an unabashedly sentimental film (as, I assume, are all of Levinson’s Baltimore films) that never gets to be treacly or overly chest-thumping (it never really goes “Oh woe is me I am a poor little Jew, wah wah wah” like some other movies). I’ve liked Ben Foster since his kids’ show Flash Forward (in which his acting was, well, a little broad) and here he gives a much more measured performance as what ends up being the center of the film. I have no complaints about the rest of the cast, except perhaps for the role of the mother (played by Bebe Neuwirth) which is somewhat underwritten. This one slipped through the cracks upon release, but do yourself a favor and check it out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
astrosheil [ 9.5 ]
[ add to preferred ]
[ email this review to a friend ]
Because I was a teenager in the fifties, this movie was especially poignant. I remember very well growing up Jewish in a small town and what that felt like. The direction, the acting, the production was outstanding. Why did I not hear about this movie before?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JD [ 6.5 ]
[ add to preferred ]
[ email this review to a friend ]
Typical family drama about the children of a first generation Jewish family in Baltimore. The story centers on the family struggles of mixing with rest of society. Interesting concept with average substance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emmitt [ 7.5 ]
[ add to preferred ]
[ email this review to a friend ]
Interesting movie about a young jewish family in Chicago and how theyre trying to fit in in the community. The movie shows how segration plays a big role in society, as there's a scene where a white jewish boy is helping a black girl with her homework. No huge stars but a solid cast including (Bebe Neuwirth tv' cheers and Joe Montenga).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted Rating | : 7.0 |
| No. Ratings | : 5 | |
| No. Reviews | : 4 | |
|
|
|
|