Battle for Brooklyn

Name: Battle for Brooklyn
Genre: Drama, Documentary
Released: June 17, 2011
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 71

2011

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Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Battle For Brooklyn

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Movie Details & Credits

RumuR Inc. | Release Date: June 17, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: Battle for Brooklyn is an intimate look at the very public and passionate fight waged by residents and business owners of Brooklyn’s historic Prospect Heights neighborhood facing condemnation of their property to make way for the polarizing Atlantic Yards project, a massive plan to build 16 skyscrapers and a basketball arena for the NewBattle for Brooklyn is an intimate look at the very public and passionate fight waged by residents and business owners of Brooklyn’s historic Prospect Heights neighborhood facing condemnation of their property to make way for the polarizing Atlantic Yards project, a massive plan to build 16 skyscrapers and a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets. The film focuses on graphic designer Daniel Goldstein whose apartment sits at what would be center court of the new arena. A reluctant activist, Daniel is dragged into the fight because he can’t accept that the government should use the power of Eminent Domain to take his new apartment and hand it off to a private developer, Forest City Ratner. The effort to stop the project pits him and his neighbors against Ratner and an entourage of lawyers and public relations emissaries, the government, as well as other residents who want the construction jobs, the basketball team, and the additional housing that the project might produce. (RUMUR Inc.)… Expand

Director: Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley

Genre(s): Drama, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Neil Genzlinger

Jun 16, 2011

A documentary about the unending mess that is the Atlantic Yards project, is unabashedly slanted and as a result will probably be dismissed by those it portrays unflatteringly. That's unfortunate, because this film should be discouraging and dismaying for people on all sides of the project, for what it says about oversize expectations and missed opportunities. Read full review

Mark Jenkins

Jun 17, 2011

The Empire State's eminent domain laws are unusually loose, but most of the rest of this story is pertinent far beyond New York. Change a few names and add the next credit bubble, and a Brooklyn-style Battle could be headed to a neighborhood near you. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jun 16, 2011

Most viewers should find the documentary Battle For Brooklyn gripping and provocative, no matter their opinions about eminent domain, historic preservation, or public dollars going to support private development. Read full review

John Anderson

Jun 18, 2011

"It's un-American," Goldstein says about the abuses of power at the heart of the film, before correcting himself: "No -- you know what? It is American." That's precisely the message that Battle for Brooklyn doesn't sufficiently explore. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Aug 19, 2011

Although not exactly even-handed, the movie proves a deft look at a reluctant crusader and how financial sway and political override can so effectively trump the power of the average citizen. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Jun 23, 2011

Tells the story of a love affair and a new family, and reminds us that even billionaires are not omnipotent. Read full review

Benjamin Mercer

Jun 14, 2011

Battle for Brooklyn provides a useful primer on the opposition to Atlantic Yards, but figures who might have made more compelling documentary subjects than the always on-message Goldstein crowd the sidelines. Read full review

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Flickbuff

Jun 28, 2011

Battle for Brooklyn is an engrossing documentary film that shows how a major real estate developer was able to co-opt state and city politicians in order to launch a $4 billion real estate project. Atlantic Yards was supposed to contain a basketball arena for the Nets and 16 huge office andBattle for Brooklyn is an engrossing documentary film that shows how a major real estate developer was able to co-opt state and city politicians in order to launch a $4 billion real estate project. Atlantic Yards was supposed to contain a basketball arena for the Nets and 16 huge office and residential skyscrapers. Besides being the nationâ… Expand

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