Washington Heights is sloppy and often undernourished, but it convincingly creates a neighborhood throbbing with activity and caring.
Washington Heights (2003)
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Reviews Counted:38
Fresh:30
Rotten:8
Average Rating:6.1/10
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language, sexuality, brief violence and drug use
Runtime: 85 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:May 9, 2003 Limited
Synopsis: Alfredo de Villa's energetic debut pays tribute to one of Manhattan's more notorious neighborhoods, the predominantly Dominican Washington Heights. Carlos Ramirez (Manny Perez), an aspiring comic... Alfredo de Villa's energetic debut pays tribute to one of Manhattan's more notorious neighborhoods, the predominantly Dominican Washington Heights. Carlos Ramirez (Manny Perez), an aspiring comic book artist, has dreams of moving downtown and establishing a new life for himself, but his girlfriend, Maggie (Andrea Navedo), is growing tired of his lack of consideration for her own work. When Carlos's father, Eddie (Tomas Milian), is shot at his deli, Carlos is forced to put his dreams aside to keep the business afloat. Meanwhile, Carlos's best friend, Mickey (Danny Hoch), has dreams of his own. Desperate to find enough cash to get to a bowling tournament in Las Vegas, Mickey ends up stealing from Maggie's dangerous brother, Angel (Bobby Cannavale). Just when Carlos sells some work and sees some light at the end of the tunnel, Angel brings yet another sobering dose of reality to the situation. Based on an idea by Perez, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS was scripted by de Villa and Nat Moss, with dialogue help from acclaimed writer Junot Diaz. The result is a picture that bristles with honesty and vitality. Shot on digital video with a minimal budget, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS is packed with utterly convincing, powerful performances. [More]
Starring: Tomas Milian, Manny Perez, Danny Hoch, Jude Ciccolella
Starring: Tomas Milian, Manny Perez, Danny Hoch, Jude Ciccolella, Andrea Navedo, Bobby Cannavale
Director: Alfredo de Villa
Director: Alfredo de Villa
Screenwriter: Alfredo de Villa, Nat Moss
Story: Manny Perez
Producer: Luis Dantas, Manny Perez, Tom Donahue, Alfredo de Villa
Studio: Mac Releasing
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Reviews for Washington Heights
Its depiction of life sidesteps cliché, sticking to the borough of real and plausible human emotion.
De Villa's debut film is persuasively written and acted, if a tad rougher around the edges than one might wish.
Makes the most of its low budget and has an abundance of heart to boot.
A promising debut that makes us anticipate this Columbia University film grad's sophomore work.
Deserves a wide audience hungry for sympathetic, three-dimensional people caught up in something bigger than themselves.
Washington Heights may not always be great, but director Alfredo de Villa lights an undeniable fire in the movie's belly.
Sincere but amateurishly filmed urban tale marked by some nice performances.
When the film shows the awkwardness of the lead's caregiver relationship with his cranky father, De Villa finds material that's compelling, but such complications as the girlfriend's violent brother going ballistic and tragedy ensuing are rugged cliches.
One wishes the turns of Carlos' life felt more like life and less like a movie.
De Villa has a light touch that instills the film with a certain charm that saves the day
The film has an urgency and assured street-level realism that is rare for any film, let alone one by a first-time director.
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