CITY ISLAND


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-

12 thoughts on “CITY ISLAND

  1. Jeff Meyerson

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      You were right, Jeff! I thought CITY ISLAND was terrific, especially Andy Garcia’s character. The whole cast was talented.

      Reply
  2. Patti Abbott

    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.

    Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    Yeah, what was up with the fat women obsession? That was rather odd.

    They sure made the food look good, though….

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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!

      Reply
  4. Jeff Meyerson

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      I’ve always liked Andy Garcia’s work, Jeff. But, you’re right: Garcia was relaxed and having fun with this role. Brilliant work!

      Reply
  5. Richard Robinson

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  6. Jeff Meyerson

    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.

    Reply

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