City Island

City Island is quite the offbeat, odd dramedy. At times it's condescending, at times it is touching, and most often it is amusing. It tells of a family who live on City Island: a part of the bronx that has stayed mostly to itself. The family we learn of is the Rizzo's. The father Vince is a corrections officer (jail guard), played nicely by Andy Garcia. Despite his occupation, Vince has always yearned to be an actor, and tells his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) that he's out playing poker when he's actually taking acting classes. As this is going on, their son has a fetish for obese pornography, their daughter has been kicked out of college (unbeknownst to the parents) and is working as a stripper. Vince's wife Joyce is also quite paranoid and verges on insane. So, all is not well with Vince, until one day while doing rounds he recognizes one of the names on the roster. He discovers that one of the new inmates is his son from another woman. Upon realizing this, he offers the inmate (named Tony and played by Steven Straight) a job working for him upon his release. With Tony in the picture, the secrets of the family unravel. Sometimes in strange ways involving Martin Scorsese films and Emily Mortimer, the family realizes what they've been doing for so long: lying. Now, this all could have been a shrill and obnoxious film. However, it is directed well by Raymond de Felitta, and the film turns into a practically languid, yet amusing film. It is not great by any stretch, and many of the things that happen within are not only unrealistic, but sort of stupid. However, the film is often funny and touching. The performances elevate the material to make City Island worthwhile.
City Island: ✰✰✰