Andy Garcia with a heart? True - here he's an average, flawed but decent and at times vulnerable family man, who has more success communicating with his charges at the correctional facility where he works as a guard than he does with his own family.
In a low-key and heart-warming movie, the individual characters radiate individuality - aside of Garcia, (Vince Rizzo) there's his blunt and free-spirited (OK, bossy!) wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), college student daughter, who's dropped out to do a spot of stripping and their teenage son, who has a sexual fetish for BBW's...(and he gets to spy on one and meet her!)
The family know nothing of each of their individual 'pursuits' - add to the mix Vince's poker sessions with the boys that are actually acting classes, run by that wonderful old sage, Alan Arkin, typically and sardonically treating us to a gentle belittling of his students. British Emily Mortimer sticks to her native accent as Vince's friend, who he gets to slowly confide in. Many will find Garcia's fumbled and over- acted, or under-acted? amateur dramatics very funny, as he hopelessly impersonates every gangster stereotype possible, with Brando's 'method' acting ripe for a swipe.
Rizzo also manages to get some cheap, unofficial labour so he can build a bespoke bathroom - who this is, the effect he has on them all and who he turns out to be is a whole extra story, interwoven with the rest. Affectionately filmed in the Bronx, this has a community feel about it and the film's title refers to that place in one's mind and imagination in which to take a break - to think and reflect.
What's best about it all is that it's comfortable with itself. It doesn't try too hard - it knows its place and with its affectionate heart, interesting characters, most will find City Island nicely satisfying.
In a low-key and heart-warming movie, the individual characters radiate individuality - aside of Garcia, (Vince Rizzo) there's his blunt and free-spirited (OK, bossy!) wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), college student daughter, who's dropped out to do a spot of stripping and their teenage son, who has a sexual fetish for BBW's...(and he gets to spy on one and meet her!)
The family know nothing of each of their individual 'pursuits' - add to the mix Vince's poker sessions with the boys that are actually acting classes, run by that wonderful old sage, Alan Arkin, typically and sardonically treating us to a gentle belittling of his students. British Emily Mortimer sticks to her native accent as Vince's friend, who he gets to slowly confide in. Many will find Garcia's fumbled and over- acted, or under-acted? amateur dramatics very funny, as he hopelessly impersonates every gangster stereotype possible, with Brando's 'method' acting ripe for a swipe.
Rizzo also manages to get some cheap, unofficial labour so he can build a bespoke bathroom - who this is, the effect he has on them all and who he turns out to be is a whole extra story, interwoven with the rest. Affectionately filmed in the Bronx, this has a community feel about it and the film's title refers to that place in one's mind and imagination in which to take a break - to think and reflect.
What's best about it all is that it's comfortable with itself. It doesn't try too hard - it knows its place and with its affectionate heart, interesting characters, most will find City Island nicely satisfying.