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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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The
Yards
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Reviewed
by: |
Rodrigo
Medina |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Video: |
Widescreen
anamorphic - 2.35:1 |
| Audio: |
English
(Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) |
| Language: |
English |
| Subtitle: |
Spanish/
English for hearing impaired |
| Length: |
1hr
55 min. |
| Rating: |
R |
| Release
Date: |
4-17-2001
|
| Studio: |
Miramax
Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
Commentary
by director James Gray |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
Behind-the-Scenes
Featurette Original Concept Art |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Yes |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Mark Wahlberg;
Joaquin Phoenix; Charlize Theron; Faye Dunaway; Ellen Burstyn
and James Caan |
| Screenplay
by: |
NA |
| Produced
by: |
Jonathan Gordon |
| Directed
By: |
James Gray |
| Music: |
Howard Shore |
| The
Review: |
After spending
a few years in jail, Leo Handler (Mark Wahlberg) tries to get
a new honest life working with his uncle, Frank (James Caan),
in the rail yards of Queens. He meets his old friend, Willie
(Joaquin Phoenix) and an old girlfriend, Erica (Charlize Theron),
and everything seems to be fine. But Leo finds out about illegal
business related to the repair of city's subway cars, which
led to some lucrative contracts. Frank, his uncle, maintains
the family dominance in the business by sabotaging the work
of their competitors. One night, when Leo starts working in
some illegal activities, joining a crew of midnight saboteurs
of trains, he gets involved in a terrible crime. Leo is suspected
in the killing of a railway official and the beating of a city
patrolman and his life is in danger, when a cop reveals his
ID. "The Yards" is the second film directed by James Gray, in
which he makes an unusual combination of family drama and mystery.
The movie was selected by Cannes jury and even got some good
critics. However, this film is a little disappointing, because
the result stays below of what I expected. The beginning of
"The Yards" is very good, with a welcome party scene, but after
one hour, the excitement is gone, due to the poor script and
slow narrative. Nevertheless, the cast is great and is always
rewarding to watch Charlize Theron and James Caan performing.
Mark Wahlberg, also known for his work as a CK model, does a
great job playing the main character Leo, who is trying to be
accepted by society, but at the same time cannot avoid getting
in trouble. Joaquin Phoenix is also fine in his part, and makes
a real effort to do something different from his previous work
in "Gladiator". |
| Image
and Sound |
Most of
the film takes place in dark streets and indoor environments,
creating a heavy atmosphere of crime and mystery. The sound
is great and you can listen to footsteps in clear and loud sound
if you are using your stereo speaker. Since James Caan likes
old paintings, and even included some of them as extra material
of this DVD, the image is a very important element for this
movie, and should be considered as a real part of the plot.
You will see NY shoots and some studio scenes. |
| The
Extras |
The DVD
has only a few extras. You can find the theatrical trailer,
as well as an original concept art, with some paintings which
inspired the director to create the plot. There is also a cool
behind the scenes featurette, with cast interviews and commentaries
about the movie and their own parts. |
| Commentary |
This DVD
features commentary by director James Gray. He explains all
the concept behind this movie, commenting each scene. Being
an art admirer, James shows the viewer how some paintings have
influenced in the making of the movie, such as in the opening
sequence, in which Leo's family organizes a welcome party when
he is released from prison. The sequence is all yellow and brown
-as the director said-and was directly influenced by the paintings
he collects. Throughout the commentary feature, the director
shows he is grateful for having working with talented young
actors, such as Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlgberg and Joaquin
Phoenix, as well as with veterans, such as James Caan and Faye
Dunaway. As one can notice, in "The Yards" James Gray wanted
to show the corruption of contractors who repair and rebuild
the city's subway cars in the rail yards of the Queens, in a
plot involving crime and family values. One of the best parts
in this feature is the commentary about the crime scene, when
saboteurs try to ruin the work of a small firm in the subway
business. It is also interesting to find out that James Gray
was influenced by his own father experience to make this movie. |
| Final
Words: |
"The Yards"
is a typical family drama. Some sequences are really great,
but the plot is weak and sometimes very repetitive. After the
main crime scene, the movie does not progress and the viewer
notices that such a great cast could do a better film. However,
"The Yards" is a regular movie and can be watched if you lower
your expectations. There are some violent scenes in this film,
and this is not recommended for people under 18. |
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