I laughed out loud several times while watching City Island. Andy Garcia plays a prison guard with a secret. Garcia’s character yearns to be an actor. Secretly, he has been taking an acting class while telling his wife, played by Julianna Margulies, that he’s going to a poker game. Meanwhile, Garcia’s son has a fetish for large women (and food) and his daughter, who he thinks is hard at work at college, has been working as a stripper. A couple wild card elements rock Garcia’s world with hilarious consequences. This is a very clever movie. Don’t miss this excellent screw-ball comedy! GRADE: A-
See, I told you you’d like it! They even managed to be touching in Garcia’s acting scenes. And the City Island scenery was not something you’ll see in a Jerry Bruckheimer movie either.
You were right, Jeff! I thought CITY ISLAND was terrific, especially Andy Garcia’s character. The whole cast was talented.
I had difficulty with their treatment of the son’s desire to feed fat women. But I certainly liked the cast and the atmosphere and its gentle spirit.
That food and large women fetish was bizarre, Patti. But it fit with the screwiness of the movie.
Yeah, what was up with the fat women obsession? That was rather odd.
They sure made the food look good, though….
It won’t surprise you that Diane and I went to lunch directly after seeing CITY ISLAND, Jeff. All that food in the final scene made us really, really hungry!
I was impressed with Garcia too. I thought he was so much more relaxed than the usual uptight characters he’s played in the past.
I’ve always liked Andy Garcia’s work, Jeff. But, you’re right: Garcia was relaxed and having fun with this role. Brilliant work!
If it’s described as “screwball” I run from it. Don’t loike 3 stooges, Mark Bros, Laurel & Hardy, any of that, and most other screwball stuff is equally as unpalatable to me.
What is with the picture? There are 5 people and 4 names. Someone got shafted. Probably some screwball trick.
I was using “screwball” in the sense that the women characters dominate the action, Rick. Garcia’s wife, daughter, and acting friend take up the majority of the screen time.
Rick, it is a little outre but you can ignore the parts you don’t like and I guarantee you’ll find enough that you do like to make it worthwhile, even if it’s just a side of The Bronx you’ve never seen before. And the whole becoming an actor/auditioning part is fascinating, with Alan Arkin as the rather cynical acting teacher.
As for the credits, ignore them. Emily Mortimer is not in the picture, just the family members.
The stripper daughter is played by Garcia’s real daughter, by the way.
I agree with Jeff, Rick. You would really enjoy CITY ISLAND. It’s clever and surprising!