City Island
Anchor Bay Films | Release Date: March 19, 2010
8.2
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 61 Ratings
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Positive:
51
Mixed:
10
Negative:
0
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
SecretAgentGalSep 19, 2010
With creative mastery and verve, writer director Raymond De Felitta steps outside the Hollywood formula in the refreshing indie comedy City Island. City Island, a mostly Italian-American fishing village in the Bronx, is marked by the RizzoWith creative mastery and verve, writer director Raymond De Felitta steps outside the Hollywood formula in the refreshing indie comedy City Island. City Island, a mostly Italian-American fishing village in the Bronx, is marked by the Rizzo family's strong ties and passions writ large. Each Rizzo harbors a secret, and the resulting clash of lies and half-truths keeps conflict sauteing.

Andy Garcia movingly plays Vince Rizzo, proud native of City Island and prison guard. Vince secretly takes acting classes in Manhattan led by burnout teacher Michael Malakov (Alan Arkin). Joyce Rizzo (Julianna Margulies) is convinced that Vince's weekly poker night is a ruse to cover up an affair. The blue-collar couple sacrificed college plans for family commitments. College is no guarantee of happiness, however, for daughter Vivian (Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Garcia's real-life daughter). She secretly works as a stripper, looking to earn tuition and reapply after losing her scholarship. Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller) conceals his ongoing internet fetish for feeding obese women.

Things really heat up when Vince recognizes an inmate one day. Tony (the excellent Steven Strait) is his son from a long-ago affair. Tony is due for release, but has no family member to sponsor him. When Vince brings Tony home on the pretense of having him install an extra bathroom, Joyce goes ballistic. Vince tells no one that Tony is his son.

Another excellent subplot involves Vince's secret meetings with acting partner Molly (emotive Emily Mortimer). The two must share their biggest secret with each other to prepare for a class monologue. Molly coaches Vince before his audition for a Scorsese movie. The friends share a romance not for each other, but for life and its possibilities.

City Island's good times become apparent only in retrospect. Resentments smolder and occasionally explode into scream fests. Each major character faces a dilemma: tell the truth, or engage in the acrobatics of deception. While this can be entertaining to watch, it's painfully uncomfortable for the Rizzos. Garcia (Things to Do in Denver When Youâ… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
PaulR.Mar 20, 2010
The storyline and characters were quirky and fun. It had a lot of laughs and some touching moments. There were some implausibilities but heck, it's the movies!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
miked.May 2, 2010
One of the best movies I have seen in a while.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
TCk.Apr 22, 2010
Absolutely the best movie so far this year! The performances are delightful, particularly Ezra Miller and Steven Strait. A perfect example of a perfect comedy - understated at times, laugh out loud funny at times, and poignant at times. Love Absolutely the best movie so far this year! The performances are delightful, particularly Ezra Miller and Steven Strait. A perfect example of a perfect comedy - understated at times, laugh out loud funny at times, and poignant at times. Love this movie!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
jacks.Apr 25, 2010
Totally entertaining. Great fun.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
HaroldZ.Mar 25, 2010
Interesting characters with moments of hilarity.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
KingL.Apr 27, 2010
This is a brilliant slice of life. A metaphor for American culture at its worst and its best. In a bevy of great performances Andy Garcia gives the performance of a lifetime. Raymond De Felitta not only provides the cast with great material This is a brilliant slice of life. A metaphor for American culture at its worst and its best. In a bevy of great performances Andy Garcia gives the performance of a lifetime. Raymond De Felitta not only provides the cast with great material but he directs them to perfection. One of the only times in his career where Andy Garcia doesn't go over the top. Worth the trip to the theatre.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
DianaMMay 2, 2010
A wonderful surprise. Loved the characters, acting and pay off. Everyone should see this small but mighty film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
LynJan 8, 2011
An amusing comedy-of-errors flick that blended dysfunctional-family cliches with some truly touching and original moments -- such as the son's unusual fetish that was handled with an apt combination of sincerity and weird wonderment. I alsoAn amusing comedy-of-errors flick that blended dysfunctional-family cliches with some truly touching and original moments -- such as the son's unusual fetish that was handled with an apt combination of sincerity and weird wonderment. I also enjoyed seeing Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies together again. (Both were really good in 2001's "The Man From Elysian Fields.")… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
lazydeanOct 9, 2010
Entertaining, ok story line, a little off beat, and makes for a fun movie rental nite. I'll recommend this to my friends and family. Even teenagers would like this film. It was a Redbox rental for us. You can't beat the price.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
beelzie14Dec 16, 2011
A truly great film with multi-faceted scenes and such a diverse story. Such eccentric dark humour with a complex look at family and all of its problems.
Highly recommended.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
CharlottePApr 13, 2011
A slight premise (a dysfunctional family unable to be honest with each other are brought together by an ex-con who turns out to be...) which could easily have been wrecked by poor casting is brought to life by excellent, empatheticA slight premise (a dysfunctional family unable to be honest with each other are brought together by an ex-con who turns out to be...) which could easily have been wrecked by poor casting is brought to life by excellent, empathetic performances by Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies. There are a few bum notes (a wince-inducing turn by Emily Mortimer as an ever-so-English aspiring actress and a cringeworthy scene where Garcia over-emotes as an amateur actor under-emoting to win a role) but it's all likeable enough, particularly when they all stop shouting and start listening to each other.… Expand
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8
SeriosityDec 5, 2012
It could have very easily been annoying, but thanks to the strength of its cast it becomes a funny, heartfelt, and endearing story of a dysfunctional family.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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