Review of City Island (2009) by Dudley C — 12 Mar 2011
It's not very often that a feature length movie would benefit from being chopped into 6, 13 or 22 half hour (or hour segments) for television. City Island is one of those times, however, since the condensed running time of 100 minutes tends to speed the character interactions and revelations along at such a point some of the personalities get lost on the screen.
The first hour is high-pitched screeching in the form of family arguments and larger than life personalities vying for attention. The second half is much more normal, with toned down dynamics and a focus on the people instead of exposition.
The predictable parts-everyone has a secret and the inevitable "coming out" scene at the end-don't unfurl in anything resembling an honest way; rather, it all happens because the movie has to come in under 2 hours.
Subplots galore are never serviced as well as they should (including one with Alan Arkin) and the youngest son's fetish is never brought up to the family. However, for whatever faults there are here, Garcia and Margulies are perfect as a bickering, long term couple.
They serve to anchor the entire film, even when it threatens to come unglued.
This review of City Island (2009) was written by Dudley C on 12 Mar 2011.
City Island has generally received positive reviews.
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