Review of Five Corners (1987) by Greg T — 11 Apr 2012

In 1960s The Bronx a maths teacher is murdered with arrows, a dangerous felon is released from prison seemingly intent on starting where he left off, and the biggest thug of the neighbourhood has renounced violence and is embracing the civil rights movement, inspired by Martin Luther King.

The slice-of-life realism, combined with the broad and jarring surrealism, of FIVE CORNERS makes it an unusual, beguiling and enthralling spectacle, enmeshing its characters in a web of social dilemma and out-and-out weirdness.

It's difficult to extricate a coherent message from the mesmerising sequences, though it certainly offers food for thought about the nature of violence and need for a response. Though, if you're not in the mood for thinking at least there are penguins.

A strangely satisfying, defiantly unusual movie with great performances from Tim Robbins, Jodie Foster and the genuinely threatening John Tuturro. Unfairly unknown.