Barry Levinson writes and directs a story about growing up Jewish in Baltimore, MD in the 1950's, a topic he knows a lot about being a native of that city born in 1942. As a period piece, this is outstanding. As a comedy/drama, it has its moments but is too scattered to have much impact. The story follows the lives of Nate Kurtzman (Joe Mantegna), and his two sons, Van (Adrian Brody) and Ben (Ben Foster) over the period of one year. Nate's subplot showed his life as a small-time racketeer. Van develops a crush on a wealthy gentile girl at a party, and spends much of the film pining after her. When he finally gets to know her better he finds that she is much different than he had imagined. Ben develops a crush on a black girl in his class and embarks on a friendship with her that flies in the face of the taboos of the times.
The entire film revolved around a single theme, i.e. how hard it was to grow up Jewish in the 1950's. Much of the material was amusing, some disturbing and some charming, but Levinson was so intent on relieving (or reliving) his angst that he kept wandering from the main storylines. If he had focused the story more on the relationship between Ben and Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), it would have been a much stronger film.
As a period piece on the 50's, this is outstanding. The costumes and props were perfect and the entire film had a genuine 50's feeling to it. Levinson captured not only the images, but also the attitudes.
The ensemble cast was very solid. Joe Montegna is always terrific, especially when he is playing a crook. He is extremely believable in those roles and though he has tried to break out of the type, he keeps coming back because he does it so well. Ben Foster gave a wonderful performance played with a great deal of wit and sensitivity. He and Rebekah Johnson had excellent chemistry and made the forbidden relationship enchanting.
This film had potential, but Levinson' mission to expose injustice kept distracting him from the storyline and dissipated its overall effect. I rated it 6/10. Add a point if you are Jewish and another if you are nostalgic about the 1950's. Not bad, but it could have been much better.
The entire film revolved around a single theme, i.e. how hard it was to grow up Jewish in the 1950's. Much of the material was amusing, some disturbing and some charming, but Levinson was so intent on relieving (or reliving) his angst that he kept wandering from the main storylines. If he had focused the story more on the relationship between Ben and Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), it would have been a much stronger film.
As a period piece on the 50's, this is outstanding. The costumes and props were perfect and the entire film had a genuine 50's feeling to it. Levinson captured not only the images, but also the attitudes.
The ensemble cast was very solid. Joe Montegna is always terrific, especially when he is playing a crook. He is extremely believable in those roles and though he has tried to break out of the type, he keeps coming back because he does it so well. Ben Foster gave a wonderful performance played with a great deal of wit and sensitivity. He and Rebekah Johnson had excellent chemistry and made the forbidden relationship enchanting.
This film had potential, but Levinson' mission to expose injustice kept distracting him from the storyline and dissipated its overall effect. I rated it 6/10. Add a point if you are Jewish and another if you are nostalgic about the 1950's. Not bad, but it could have been much better.