The Yards (2000)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

James Gray

Writers (WGA):

James Gray (written by) &
Matt Reeves (written by)

Release Date:

27 April 2000 (Singapore)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There's nothing more dangerous than an innocent man.

Plot:

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative...

Plot Keywords:

Contractor | Subway | Corruption | Railroad Yard | Politician

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mark Wahlberg	...	Leo Handler
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Willie Gutierrez
Charlize Theron	...	Erica Soltz
James Caan	...	Frank Olchin
Ellen Burstyn	...	Val Handler
Faye Dunaway	...	Kitty Olchin
Steve Lawrence	...	Arthur Mydanick
Andy Davoli	...	Raymond Price (as Andrew Davoli)
Tony Musante	...	Seymour Korman
Victor Argo	...	Paul Lazarides
Tomas Milian	...	Manuel Sequiera
Robert Montano	...	Hector Gallardo
Victor Arnold	...	Albert Granada
Chad Aaron	...	Bernard Soltz
Louis Guss	...	Nathan Grodner
Domenick Lombardozzi	...	Todd
Joe Lisi	...	Elliot
David Zayas	...	Officer Jerry Rifkin
Joseph Ragno	...	Parole Officer
Teresa Yenque	...	Maid
Jose Soto	...	Orderly
John Tormey	...	Contract Officer
Teddy Coluca	...	Terry
Jack O'Connell	...	Sal Disipio
Dan Grimaldi	...	Executive One
Garry Pastore	...	Detective Tommasino
Ron Brice	...	Detective Bulette
Gene Canfield	...	Queensborough Policeman
Keith Hernandez	...	Baseball Celebrity
Allan Houston	...	Basketball Celebrity
Andi Shrem	...	Belva
Joe Dimare	...	Dante
Barry Wetcher	...	Young Doctor
Oscar A. Colon	...	Well Dressed Man (as Oscar Colon)
Jace Kent	...	Young Italian Man
Brandon Danziger	...	Neil
Doug Barron	...	Doctor
Floyd Resnick	...	Hospital Cop
Chris Edwards	...	Police Officer
Ray Seiden	...	Police Officer (as Raymond Seiden)
Annika Pergament	...	Reporter
Maximiliano Hernández	...	Bartender (as Maximiliano Hernandez)
Kip Evans	...	Guy
John Elsen	...	Officer
Douglas Crosby	...	Officer #2
Scott Nicholson	...	Policeman #1
Kim Merritt	...	Todd's Girlfriend
Erin Walls	...	Dante's Girlfriend
Tyree Michael Simpson	...	Doorman (as Tyree Simpson)
Peter Vallone	...	Councilman
Irwin Gray	...	Lawyer
Denise Traficanti	...	Secretary
Roma Torre	...	News Anchor 1
Lewis Dodley	...	News Anchor 2 (as Louis Dodley)
Ernie Anastos	...	News Anchor 3
Harriet Grodner	...	Harriet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Chang	...	Young Woman (uncredited)
Anthony Gaudioso	...	Young Party Supporter (uncredited)
Jeffrey Hoffman	...	Lobbyist (uncredited)
Steve Nuke	...	Friend at Funeral (uncredited)
Lisa Pickell	...	(uncredited)
Bernie Rachelle	...	Transit Authority Officer (uncredited)
Rocco	...	Street Walker (uncredited)
Marc Romeo	...	Tommy (uncredited)
Amy Russ	...	Assistant D.A. (uncredited)
Doug Sakmann	...	Club Dancer (uncredited)
Andy Signore	...	Club Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
James Gray

Writing credits (WGA)
James Gray		(written by) &
Matt Reeves		(written by)

Produced by
Christopher Goode	....	co-producer
Jonathan Gordon	....	executive producer
Kerry Orent	....	producer
Matt Reeves	....	co-producer
Paul Webster	....	producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore		(music by)

Cinematography by
Harris Savides		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeffrey Ford

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Kevin Thompson

Art Direction by
Judy Rhee

Set Decoration by
Ford Wheeler

Costume Design by
Michael Clancy

Makeup Department
Mary A. D'Angelo	....	key hairstylist: additional photography (as Mary D'Angelo)
Leslie Fuller	....	makeup artist
Wayne Herndon	....	key hairstylist
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup artist: Charlize Theron (as Deborah Larsen)
Charles McKenna	....	hairstylist (as Charles Mckenna)
Donald Mowat	....	key make-up artist
Rita Ogden	....	makeup artist
James Post	....	hairstylist (as James T.B. Post)

Production Management
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor
Victoria McGarry	....	unit production manager (as Victoria Mcgarry Lorino)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Hill	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Linda Perkins	....	second assistant director
Chip Signore	....	second second assistant director
David 'Wex' Wechsler	....	first assistant director (as David Wechsler)
Amanda Slater	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Anthony Baldasare	....	on-set dresser
Julia Barraclough	....	charge scenic
Steven Barrada	....	carpenter
Brian Becker	....	carpenter
Steven Blaho	....	construction grip
James Boniece	....	construction grip
Susan Carrolan	....	shop manager
Gary Cergol	....	art department coordinator: additional photography
Thomas Clark	....	construction grip
Thomas Clark	....	key construction grip: additional photography
Elisa Nevel Demarest	....	scenic (as Elisa Nevel)
James Dewolf	....	construction grip
David Flaiz	....	carpenter
Steven Gamiello	....	second property master (as Steve Gamiello)
Bill Gilleran	....	construction grip (as Billy Gilleran)
Jonathan Graham	....	key construction grip
Sam Greto	....	carpenter
Dana Hook	....	construction grip
Teddy Janicki	....	shop scenic
Heather Danielle Kane	....	assistant property master (as Heather Kane)
Shauna Kellin	....	scenic
Michael J. Kinney	....	art department coordinator
Robin Koenig	....	set dresser
Bill Kolpin	....	set dresser (as William Kolpin)
Gordon Krause	....	construction foreman
Charlie Marroquin	....	construction grip
Teresa Mastropierro	....	scenic
Jeff Mazzola	....	property master: additional photography
Lou Miller	....	key carpenter
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator
Fred Muller	....	shop electric
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	scenic (as Lyvan Munlyn)
Catherine Nasch	....	scenic
Jennifer Alex Nickason	....	assistant set decorator (as Jennifer Alex)
Mel Noped	....	construction grip (as Melvin Noped)
John Nyomarkay	....	assistant art director
Celia Parker	....	scenic
Steven Richetts	....	stand-by scenic (as Steve Richetts)
Shelley Rich	....	set decorating coordinator
Daniel Rieser	....	construction grip
Scott Rosenstock	....	leadman
Elizabeth Schlitten	....	assistant property master: additional photography
Phillip Schneider	....	scenic foreman
Mark Simon	....	set dresser
Walter Stocklin	....	set dresser
Ron Stone	....	property master
Steven J. Thrun	....	art department assistant (as Steven Thrun)
Robert Vaccariello	....	carpenter
Victoria Vanasco	....	set dresser
Peter von Bartheld	....	set dresser (as Peter Von Bartheld)
Kenneth Walshak	....	carpenter (as Ken Walshak)
Frances Catalano	....	best boy construction grip (uncredited)
John Nyomarkay	....	art director: additional photography (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael Axinn	....	assistant adr editor
Chris Barron	....	digital transfers (as Christopher Barron)
Phil Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Karen Brocco	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Karen A. Brocco)
Tim Burby	....	digital transfers
Yin Cantor	....	assistant sound effects editor
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound designer
Chris Cozens	....	auricle operator
Travis Crenshaw	....	machine room operator
Tony Eckert	....	foley mixer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	consultant: Dolby
Sue Fox	....	supervising adr editor (as Suzanne Fox)
Jeanne Gilliland	....	boom operator
Claire Graybill	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Greber	....	digital transfers
Gabriel Guy	....	re-recordist
Lora Hirschberg	....	re-recording mixer
Tom Johnson	....	re-recording mixer
Stephen Kearney	....	sound effects editor
Tommy Louie	....	cableperson
Brian Magerkurth	....	machine room operator
Frank 'Pepe' Merel	....	foley recordist
Cheryl Nardi	....	supervising assistant sound editor
Jonathan Null	....	foley editor
Tom Paul	....	production sound mixer
Steve Romanko	....	re-recordist
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound designer
Jurgen Scharpf	....	mix technician
Steve Slanec	....	assistant adr editor
Kent Sparling	....	mix technician
Dianna Stirpe	....	dialogue editor
Erich Stratmann	....	assistant sound effects editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley walker (as Denny Thorpe)
Jana Vance	....	foley walker
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	adr editor
Daniel McIntosh	....	sound playback (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	digital transfers (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunts (as Don J. Hewitt)
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jared Abrams	....	loader
Chris Beattie	....	grip
Michael Brown	....	electrician
Michael Cambria	....	second assistant camera
Matt Chubet	....	grip
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer (as John Deblau)
Dan Denitto	....	grip (as Dan De Nitto)
Richie Ford	....	best boy electric (as Richard Ford)
Jim Galvin	....	rigging electrician
Pedro Hernández	....	best boy grip (as Pedro Hernandez)
Brent Jack	....	light technician: Musco Light
Paul Kinghan	....	genny operator
Jason Lanci	....	electrician
Eric Liebowitz	....	still photographer: additional photography
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator (as Bruce Maccallum)
James Mah	....	rigging electrician
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip
Gary Martone	....	key grip
Gary Martone	....	key grip: additional photography
Brian McCullagh	....	electrician (as Brian Mccullagh)
Jim McCullagh	....	electrician (as James Mccullagh)
John McEnerney	....	grip (as John Mcenerney)
Serge Mihajlov	....	electrician
Sean O'Brien	....	grip
Ronald Paul	....	rigging electrician
Tom Percarpio	....	electrician (as Thomas Percapio)
Louis Petraglia	....	electrician
Peter John Petraglia	....	electrician (as John Petraglia)
Scott H. Ramsey	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Scott Ramsey)
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
Justin Vanson	....	grip
David Wasserman	....	grip
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Phillip V. Caruso	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Nicolas L. Charuet	....	grip (uncredited)
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jordan Beswick	....	casting associate
Kristine Bulakowski	....	extras casting
Leigh French	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Gulczynski	....	seamstress
Daniel Dunleavy Huber	....	wardrobe production assistant
Pilar Limosner	....	assistant costume designer
Winsome G. McKoy	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Winsome Mckoy)
Marcia Patten	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rose Marie C. Polansky	....	wardrobe assistant (as Rose Marie Polansky)
Kevin Ritter	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Emmett Broderick	....	post-production assistant
Andrew Buckland	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Justine Halliday	....	first assistant editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Marisa Morabito	....	post-production assistant
Danny Rafic	....	first assistant editor
Sarah Thiessen	....	second assistant editor
Byron Wong	....	apprentice editor
John Sosnovski	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Michael Williams	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bowen	....	music coordinator
Ruth Cornes	....	music contractor
Robert Cotnoir	....	music technical supervisor
Gottfried Engels	....	composer: "Samba de Janeiro"
Dan Evans Farkas	....	assistant music editor
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
C. Johnson	....	composer: "Afterglow"
S. Kaplan	....	composer: "Boo-go-loo"
Jan Kincaid	....	composer: "I Like It"
Annette Kudrak	....	music editor
Andrew Levy	....	composer: "I Like It"
Kevin Mahonchak	....	music preparation
Cathy Moore	....	music studio manager
Simon Rhodes	....	recording engineer
Dana Sano	....	music supervisor
Howard Shore	....	music conductor
Howard Shore	....	music orchestrator
Christopher Spelman	....	music consultant (as Chris Spelman)
Scott Stambler	....	music editor: temp music
Darryl Swann	....	composer: "I Can't Wait to Meetchu"
Miles Tackett	....	composer: "I Can't Wait to Meetchu"
Michael Tremante	....	music preparation
Ramon Zenker	....	composer: "Samba de Janeiro"
Suzanne Coffman	....	music clearance (uncredited)
Tom Kramer	....	music editor (uncredited)
Stephanie Lowry	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Andrew Silver	....	preview music editor (uncredited)
Randy Spendlove	....	executive in charge of music (uncredited)
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Rudy Arietta	....	driver
Michael Buonocore	....	driver
Robert Casey	....	driver
Thomas Colavito	....	driver
Bill Curry Jr.	....	transportation captain: additional photography (as William Curry Jr.)
Bob Donavan	....	driver (as Robert Donovan)
Robert Dwyer	....	driver
Robert Featherstone	....	driver
Patrick Ford	....	driver
Nicholas Grzan	....	driver
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation captain (as Edward Iacobelli Sr.)
Edward Iacobelli Jr.	....	driver
Ray Iacobelli	....	driver
Tony Ingrassellino	....	driver (as Anthony Ingrassellino)
Christopher Kornak	....	driver
Noel Lawlor	....	driver
Ron Lucas	....	driver (as Ron Lucas Jr.)
Jimmy Mahr	....	driver (as James Mahr)
J.J. McGrane	....	driver (as James Mcgrane)
Fred Momole	....	driver
Robert O'Neill	....	transportation co-captain
Jim Popper	....	driver (as James Popper)
Barry Sweeney	....	driver
George Washington	....	driver

Other crew
Brooks Baldwin	....	dialect coach
Donna L. Bascom	....	legal services (as Donna Bascom, Esq.)
Jack Bavaro	....	location assistant
Joshua A. Bell	....	assistant accountant: additional photography (as Josh Bell)
Zoran Blazevic	....	location scout
Lee Brazier	....	assistant: Paul Webster
Jonathan Bulette	....	set intern
Jim Carden	....	post-production accountant
Salvatore Carino	....	production accountant
Wendy Cohen	....	clearance
Tony Cypres	....	assistant accountant
Roger Davies	....	production associate
Jennifer Demme	....	set production assistant
Carey DePalma	....	assistant location manager: additional photography (as Carey Depalma)
Nicole Duryea	....	set production assistant
Meryl Emmerton	....	assistant production coordinator
Alyson Evans	....	production coordinator
Debora Fearon	....	craft service (as Debra B. Fearon)
Benjamin Friedman	....	set intern
Cliff Fuller	....	production secretary (as Clifton Fuller)
Carla Gardini	....	assistant: Jonathan Gordon
Carolyn Gershenson	....	medic (as Carolyn Gershenson Rn)
Ginger Gonzalez	....	set production assistant
Ann Hanlon	....	assistant: James Caan
Kali Harrison	....	set production assistant (as Kali Rashad Harrison)
Lys Hopper	....	location manager
Nicki Infante	....	payroll accountant
Ryan Jaffe	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Tina Johnson	....	assistant: Kerry Orent
Takahide Kawakami	....	set production assistant
Joe Kelly	....	location scout
Annie Kuronyi	....	location production assistant (as Anne Kuronyi)
Chris Laker	....	office production assistant
Cara Leibovitz	....	unit publicist
Sam Levy	....	digital assistant: Harris Savides
Roberto Lopez	....	location assistant
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service: additional photography
Wendy Mooradian	....	office production assistant
Ko Nizuma	....	parking coordinator (as Ko Nilzuma)
Julie Oppenheimer	....	script supervisor
Arlene Pachasa	....	assistant: Charlize Theron
Deidre Schrowang	....	first assistant accountant: additional photography
Kate Schultz	....	location scout
Matthew A. Schwartz	....	location scout (as Matthew Schwartz)
Karen Shaw	....	set intern
Jamie Sheridan	....	key production assistant
Jonathan Silver	....	location coordinator
Christopher Spelman	....	consultant to filmmakers
Kristina Strang	....	craft service
Michelle Sy	....	assistant: Jonathan Gordon
John Torrijos	....	video services (as John 'J.T.' Torrijos)
Alfonso Trinidad	....	set production assistant
Mimi Turner	....	location assistant
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Christian von Burkleo	....	video services (as Christian Von Burkleo)
Tara Walls	....	product placement
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Mark Wahlberg
Modi Wiczyk	....	set intern
Marcus Woods	....	set production assistant
Maury Wray	....	assistant location manager
Jon Zeidman	....	assistant location manager (as Jonathan Zeidman)
Damon Zwicker	....	assistant: James Gray
Heath Jacob Baldwin	....	additional office production assistant (uncredited)
Ellen Burke	....	production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Barbara Christie	....	adr voice: "Kitty" (uncredited)
Marisa Clayton	....	dailies assistant: Magno Sound & Video (uncredited)
Eddy Collyns	....	location scout (uncredited)
Skip Rose	....	stand-in: James Caan (uncredited)
Michael L. Walker	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Albertine Anderson	....	the filmmakers wish to thank (as Alberteen Anderson)
Karl R. Austen	....	the filmmakers wish to thank (as Karl Austen)
Adam Balkin	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Bryan Burk	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Vicki Cherkas	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Glenn Cowan	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Ed Gabrielson	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Michael Grodner	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Ethan Gross	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
John Hadity	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Clark Henderson	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Kevin Hyman	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Jason Katims	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Steve Kmetko	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Tom Kramer	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Robert La Frisco	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
John Lesher	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Tracy McGrath	....	the filmmakers wish to thank (as Tracy Mcgrath)
Ric Menello	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Meryl Poster	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Gary Rizzo	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
David Schiff	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
John Schiumo	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Yetta Schneider	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Eric Shonz	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Geoff Stier	....	the filmmakers wish to thank
Beverly Wood	....	the filmmakers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (presents)
• Industry Entertainment (as A Paul Webster / Industry Entertainment Production)

Distributors

• New Films International (2000-2001) (non-USA) (all media)
• Miramax Films (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• FilmFour (2000) (UK) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2001) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2001) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Film Distribution (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• TF1 Vidéo (2001) (France) (DVD)
• Laurenfilm (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (collectors edition)
• RCV Film Distribution (200?) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• H.O.M. Vision (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  recording studio (as Air / Lyndhurst Studios Hampstead, England)
• Amtrak  the filmmakers wish to thank
• E! Entertainment Television  acknowledgement: "E! News Daily" footage courtesy of
• El Flamingo  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Global Music Service  music copyist (uncredited)
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance (as Great Northern Brokerage)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles & opticals (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Howard Schwartz Recording  adr recorded at
• Kaplan, Klein & Rogen  immigration counsel
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Long Island Railroad  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Margo Felden Gallery  artwork: Al Hirschfeld drawing courtesy of
• Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd.  suppliers: Musco Light (as Musco Mobile Lighting)
• NY1 News  the filmmakers wish to thank (as N Y 1 News)
• New Jersey Film Commission  the filmmakers wish to thank
• New York & Atlantic Railway Co.  the filmmakers wish to thank (as New York and Atlantic Railway)
• New York City Department of Planning  acknowledgement: some maps appear courtesy of (as The New York City Department of Planning)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the filmmakers wish to thank (as The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting)
• New York City Transit Authority  the filmmakers wish to thank
• New York Daily News  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Post Sound Corporation  adr recorded at
• Premiere Catering  catering (as Premiere Caterers )
• Searchworks  stock footage research
• Simmons-Boardman Publishing  source: Railway Age magazine courtesy of
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services provided by (as Skywalker Sound - A division of Lucas Digital Ltd., Marin County, California)
• Sound One  adr recorded at
• Wishire Stages  adr recorded at

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:Unrated (2005 DVD Directors Cut) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R (PCA #37362) | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) initially refused permission to film on its property. The filmmakers decided to film at an old abandoned freight yard and a studio set. Finally, a deal was reached allowing one scene to be shot inside the 207th Street Car Shop and Yard on NYCTA property.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The cars in the "subway yard" are not actually subway cars; they are circa-1963 suburban commuter coaches for the Metro-North & Long Island Railroads.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beantown (2007)

Soundtrack:

Saturn

Excellent look at the seething underbelly of New York City.

It is hard to understand why this film couldn't command better distribution than it did. It has a bankable cast, a strong story and a realistic presentation. It is a raw and dark story about corruption by contractors supplying the transit system in New York City. Parts of the story are all too familiar and the entire film is very Godfatheresque. However, while `The Godfather' glorified organized crime, this film gives a much grittier view of the dirty deals and conniving, stripped of the Hollywood veneer. That is precisely what I liked about it, and in all likelihood, it is the reason that it foundered on the market.

Leo Handler (Mark Wahlberg) is just returning home from prison on a car theft conviction when the movie opens. He is repentant and sincerely wants to go straight. The deck is stacked against him though, because everyone he knows other than his mother (Ellen Burstyn), aunt (Faye Dunaway) and cousin (Charlize Theron) is corrupt. Leo applies for a job with his uncle Frank (James Caan) who is a contractor supplying parts to the New York subway system. He is reunited with an old friend, Willie Gutierrez (Joaquin Phoenix) who is currently working for Frank. Willie is eyeball deep in shady deals including the sabotage of other suppliers. One night a sabotage mission goes wrong and Leo assaults a policeman while trying to escape the scene. A manhunt ensues and both the cops and Leo's uncle are trying to hunt him down. With sinister intent, Uncle Frank wants to find him first so he won't blow the lid on the crooked dealings.

The story, written and directed by James Gray, delves into various character studies that bog down at times. However, speaking as a person who once lived there, it is an excellent rendering of New York attitudes and mannerisms, and includes plenty of not-so-glamorous shots of New York's seething underbelly. This is a New Yorker's eye view of the city, far from the glitz of Broadway, Wall Street and the art galleries. It shows the competitiveness and machismo of a segment of society known only to the locals.

The acting by the ensemble cast is outstanding. All the players capture the essence of the New York middle class gestalt beautifully. Mark Wahlberg delivers a somber but resolute character trapped in a vortex of graft and corruption. His performance is understated yet powerful. James Caan is one of the best at playing the small-time racketeer and he nails it again with his portrayal of the dirty dealing supplier. Joaquin Phoenix also shines as Willie, giving him a macho personality and the ability to rationalize any act according to his own code of morality. The cast includes Faye Dunaway, Ellen Burstyn and Charlize Theron in strong supporting roles. Steve Allen makes an extended cameo as the tainted commissioner.

This film is excellent and has been sadly overlooked by the distributors and the public. I rated it a 9/10 despite a somewhat familiar storyline, because the presentation is so precise and the style so un-sanitized. The film has a real New York feeling to it, especially recognizable to anyone who has lived there. It has my vote for the sleeper of 2000.