"CITY ISLAND" (2010) (Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Moderate Extreme None Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Extreme Minor None Minor Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Extreme Extreme Heavy Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: Lies threaten to unravel a working-class family on New York's City Island in the Bronx. PLOT: The Rizzo family lives on New York's City Island in the Bronx. Vince (ANDY GARCIA) works as a correctional officer at a nearby prison, but secretly idolizes Marlon Brando and dreams of becoming an actor. He takes acting classes on the side where he's taught by Michael (ALAN ARKIN) and is a scene partner with Molly (EMILY MORTIMER), with whom he strikes up a friendship. Vince is too embarrassed to tell his often-angry wife, Joyce (JULIANNA MARGULIES), who works as a receptionist when she is not smoking, drinking, and browbeating Vince. Vince and Joyce are parents to Vivian (DOMINIK GARCIA-LORIDO) and Vince Jr. (EZRA MILLER). Vivian is a college student who has recently been expelled from the university and lost her scholarship for smoking pot on school grounds. She has turned to stripping as a means to get the necessary money to return to school once her suspension ends. Vince Jr., meanwhile, is secretly attracted to the large girls at his high school. He regularly surfs Internet pornography that feature scantily clad women of rather large size. All are closet smokers, too, and hide their addiction from one another. One day, Vince brings home a young man named Tony (STEVEN STRAIT), who he sees is a laborer who will help on putting a new bathroom in return for room and board. Tony is really Vince's son from a previous relationship - a child and a relationship Vince has never told his family about. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Teens will be find the subplots involving the Rizzo's college-age daughter and high-school-age son interesting. Otherwise, there should be no interest from youngsters. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual content, smoking, and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ANDY GARCIA plays a prison guard who has dreams of becoming an actor. He regularly lies to his wife that he is attending poker games when he is really taking drama classes. He also has an adult son his family knows nothing about. In addition, he is a closet smoker. JULIANNA MARGULIES plays his wife, who works as a receptionist and is prone to fits of anger and shrill yelling. She hides her smoking habit from her husband and is not-so-secretly attracted to his adult son, who she doesn't know his actually her stepson. Emotionally unfulfilled and suspicious that Vince is cheating on her, she comes close to having an affair herself. STEVEN STRAIT plays Vince's adult son, a convicted felon who has committed such crimes as burglary, armed robbery, and drug dealing. He is basically a decent guy, though, who is unaware that Vince is his father when he is released into his custody. EMILY MORTIMER plays Vince's friend from acting class. The two become confidants, but keep their relationship platonic. Having become a mother young, she is hiding a secret that she left her husband and three children to try and live life on her own for a while. DOMINIK GARCIA-LORIDO plays Vince and Joyce's daughter, who doesn't tell her parents she was suspended from college for smoking marijuana on campus. She works secretly as a stripper to earn enough money to return to school the next semester and pay for it herself. She is also a closet smoker. EZRA MILLER plays Vince and Joyce's teenage son, who is attracted to heavy females and surfs Internet pornography that features "big, beautiful women." He also smokes on the sly. ALAN ARKIN plays Vince's acting teacher, who also continues to audition for roles. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 15 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present. Several fairly major scenes take place at a strip club that shows multiple dancers in various stages of undress while performing, including the family's college-age daughter. There is no actual nudity, though. Another subplot involves a teenage boy surfing the Internet for pornography depicting overweight women. Some of the sites do show brief, fleeting nudity. Yet another subplot deals with a mother's sexual attraction to her stepson, who she doesn't know is the offspring of her husband from a previous relationship. Violence consists of some minor physical altercations at or near the film's climax and some talk of violent crimes being committed by certain characters in the past or in alternate realities (as part of actors' performing scenes). Bad attitudes are present throughout, especially within the main family and how they relate to one another, as is some potentially imitative behavior and various thematic elements. Drinking is present, as is much smoking, while some drug-related comments are made. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Vince and Joyce have wine with their dinner. Tony's rap sheet lists that he was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell. Tony refers to his late mother, who died four years before the events of this film, as a "drunk." He tells Vince that she would sometimes use him to steal alcohol for her. Vince Jr. jokingly tells his dad that he just did heroin with some prostitutes and now may become a pimp. Joyce has wine and smokes on her back deck with Tony. Vivian downs at least one shot of vodka at the strip club where she works. Another family dinner scene features more wine being consumed. Molly and Vince share drinks after acting class. She has what looks like a martini, he has a glass of whiskey with ice. Vivian eventually confesses to her family that she was suspended from college for getting caught smoking marijuana on school grounds. A closing dinner scene shows Tony drinking a beer and glasses of wine on the table. BLOOD/GORE Vince runs into the bathroom and vomits when Joyce tells him that she has cheated on him with Tony. We don't see Vince throwing up, but we hear it. Tony's face is swollen after scuffling with Vince. Vince is shown acting in a scene in which he is shot multiple times by a gangster wielding a handgun, causing much fake blood to spurt from his "chest wounds." DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Vince refers to the male inmates he is tasked with watching as "ladies." Tony is a convicted felon who has committed such crimes as burglary, armed robbery, and drug dealing. Vince gets into a fender bender that is his fault. But he yells at the other driver and browbeats him so bad for "being stopped" at a traffic light that the guy gets back in his car to avoid further conflict. Over dinner, Vince and Joyce put down each other's career choices and the fact that neither went to college. Vince Jr. makes fun of Joyce's suggestion that the family go to a local botanical gardens while Vivian is home from college. Vince Jr. offers to buy a heavy girl at school donuts. In the moment, this comes across as him making fun of her. But we soon learn that he is attracted to heavy females, and this was his awkward attempt to hit on her. Vince lies throughout the film to Joyce and his family that he is going to play poker. In reality, he is taking an acting class on the side, but is too embarrassed to say. Vince attends one of these classes even on his daughter's first night home from college, causing Joyce to become suspicious. Vivian lies to her parents that she is still in college and on scholarship. In truth, she has been suspended for smoking marijuana and is trying to make money by stripping to be re-instated the following semester. Tony refers to his late mother, who died four years before the events of this film, as a "drunk," a whore," and a "bitch." He tells Vince that she would sometimes use him to steal alcohol for her. Vince Jr. jokingly tells his dad that he just did heroin with some prostitutes and now may become a pimp. When Vince asks Joyce to prepare a special meal for the evening, she reacts with anger at the insinuation that the other meals she prepares for the family are not "special." He yells back. Vince orders Tony not to tell his family that he is a felon released from prison, but is instead a contractor helping him add a bathroom to the house. Vince Jr. becomes a Peeping Tom, watching his neighbor perform for a Webcam through her kitchen window. Vivian lies about being with friends when, in reality, she was working her shift at the strip club. Men are seen in several scenes ogling strippers in the club. Vince Jr. snoops and finds Tony's mug shot photo from prison and immediately shows it to Vivian. Tony subtly disrespects the acting profession by telling Vince that anyone can act, because everyone really does have to act at some point in life. Vince calls in sick to his job in order to go on an audition. Vince then lies to Joyce over the phone that he is at work after she has found out that he called in sick. Vivian is sexually attracted to Tony despite being married to Vince. The two briefly act on their attraction by making out in the front seat of Vivian's car. Tony steals Joyce's car to go on a joyride and possibly jump bail. He drives very fast on a freeway, laughing and darting in and out of lanes. Molly eventually confesses to running out on her husband and three children as she basically attempts to "find" herself. Vince, Joyce, Vivian, Tony, and Molly allow their major squabble to spill out into the street in front of their house where their screaming fits and cartoonish fisticuffs can be seen by their neighbors. FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS Vince wields a large kitchen knife after he finds out Joyce has cheated on him with Tony. Vince is shown acting in a scene in which he is shot multiple times by a gangster wielding a handgun. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Don't be talking sh*t about your mother," "Sh*t!" "Bullsh*t!" "Otherwise it's bullsh*t," "That's not bullsh*t," "What kind of bullsh*t is that?" "I don't give a sh*t if you don't believe me! I don't give two sh*ts!" "You piece of sh*t," "You better thank me, you piece of sh*t," "You son-of-a-bitch piece of sh*t," "Holy sh*t!" "Pr*ck!" "You show your t*ts for money!" "She was a drunk and a whore," "She was a good lay," "On all fours sucking cement," "Damn," "Damn it," "I boosted your G*ddamn car," "Your mother was a G*ddamn psycho bitch," "Shut your ass," "His sorry, grand-theft ass," "I'll throw your ass back in the cage," "You knew my bitch mother?" "Little bitch spats," "Not a word, bitch," "Creep!" "Does he really think I buy that crap?" "What in the hell do you need to pause for?" "What in the hell are you doing here?" "Your jerk-off family," "Shut up," "It sucks," "You know you like your girls big," "That's stupid talk," "It's kind of stupid," "You sissy boy deformed excuse for a human posing as prison garbage," "My parents are so freakin' toxic," "You're such a loser," "Jesus Christ!" "Jesus, Dad!" and "Ah, Jesus." Vince is so preoccupied with talking to Vivian while driving that he plows into the back of a car stopped at a traffic light. He then yells at the innocent motorist he hit and basically browbeats him into accepting blame. Several prison inmates are shown with tattoos. Vince slaps Vince Jr. hard on the back of the head when he is inappropriate at the dinner table. Vince smokes and drinks coffee while driving, causing him to spill. Vince Jr. skips class to smoke. Vince secretly smokes on the roof of the family house. After he is finished, he stands on the edge of the roof looking down. Vivian litters after smoking. Vince Jr. becomes a Peeping Tom, watching his neighbor perform for a Webcam through her kitchen window. Vince Jr. reveals himself to be one of those people who often says outrageous things to get a rise out of people or see how they will react. For instance, at one point in the film, he jokingly confesses to having considered suicide, then threatens to "cut off a sexual organ." Vivian lies to her parents that she is still in college and on scholarship. In truth, she has been suspended for smoking marijuana and is trying to make money by stripping to be re-instated the following semester. Vivian lies to her mother about being with friends when, in reality, she was working her shift at the strip club. Men are seen in several scenes ogling strippers in the club. The manager of the strip club laments Vivian not working on a night when there is an "Asian invasion," meaning that a group of Asian businessmen are in the club spending large sums of money. We see a quick shot of multiple Asian men showering one scantily clad stripper with dollars and attention. Tony has an enormous tattoo of a snake on his back. Vince calls in sick to his job in order to go on an audition. Vince then lies to Joyce over the phone that he is at work after she has found out that he called in sick. Tony steals Joyce's car to go on a joyride and possibly jump bail. He drives very fast on a freeway, laughing and darting in and out of lanes. He eventually visits the strip club where Vivian is working. Molly interrupts a crowded bar full of strangers to announce that Vince just auditioned for a Martin Scorsese movie and got a callback. Vince, Joyce, Vivian, Tony, and Molly allow their major squabble to spill out into the street in front of their house where their screaming fits and cartoonish fisticuffs can be seen by their neighbors. JUMP SCENES Vince is driving a car and becomes so focused on talking to Vivian that he plows into the back of a stopped car. After learning that Tony and his wife were together romantically, Vince returns from another room with a very large knife. The scene is played mostly for comical effect, but the first few seconds of Vince coming into the room like a crazy man do startle the audience and the characters in the scene. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) There are three scenes set inside the strip club in the movie, and each one features background music that is either hard-core rap or heavy metal. PROFANITY At least 15 "s" words, 1 slang term used for male genitals ("pr*ck"), 1 slang term used for breasts ("t*ts"), 6 damns, 4 asses, 4 hells, 1 crap, 1 S.O.B., 3 uses of "G-damn," 2 uses of "Jesus" and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY Joyce wears at least two outfits during the movie that show off her cleavage. Vivian works in a strip club. Her first scene at the club shows her walking on stage with another dancer, as both are clad in a bra and tight panties. They then proceed to climb on poles and dance suggestively. We see at least two other dancers in the wide shot, all in various stages of undress but no actual nudity. Men are seen in several scenes ogling strippers in the club and giving them dollar bills for their performances. Vince Jr. secretly surf Web sites that feature pornographic material as it relates to heavy women. One site features numerous naked or near-naked females whose private parts are obscured until Vince Jr. pays to become a member. Another features the recording of a woman who talks suggestively to the camera, trying to get people to sign up. He settles on one site featuring his obese next-door neighbor cooking in her kitchen in various sexy outfits that show off her large cleavage. As she cooks, she talks suggestively to the camera. An icon on the site's main page features a cartoon fat woman naked, her breasts exposed. The large-breasted neighbor indeed displays cleavage at several points in the film. Tony refers to his dead mother as a "whore." Vince Jr. needles his dad to tell the family that he had sex with Tony's mother. Vivian displays cleavage during a family dinner, prompting Vince Jr. to ask if her breasts are still growing. Vince then becomes fixated on the girl's neckline, too. Vivian later admits to paying for breast enhancement surgery. Vince Jr. jokingly tells his dad that he just did heroin with some prostitutes and now may become a pimp. Vince Jr. becomes a Peeping Tom, watching his neighbor perform for a Webcam through her kitchen window. Tony works shirtless on at least two occasions in the film. In another scene, we see him doing push-ups without a shirt on. The manager of the strip club laments Vivian not working on a night when there is an "Asian invasion," meaning that a group of Asian businessmen are in the club spending large sums of money. We see a quick shot of multiple Asian men showering one scantily clad stripper with dollars and attention. Tony and Joyce give into their mutual attraction, pouncing on each other in the front seat of Joyce's car. They kiss long and hard, with lots of groping. Joyce starts to undo Tony's belt when he stops the two of them from going any further out of respect for Vince. Vince refers to sex between male prisoners as one man being down "on all fours, sucking cement." Denise's house features numerous pictures of large women in various swimsuits and other sexual poses. Vince Jr. jokingly threatens to "cut off a sexual organ." Tony visits the strip club where Vivian is working. We several dancers performing in various stages of undress, but again no actual nudity. Eventually, we see Vivian in her bra and panties, dancing on a pole, and the camera pans down her body slowly. Vivian exits the strip club after seeing Tony. She covers up her bra-and-panties attire only with a robe that is undone to the point where we see her cleavage in the bra as she moves. Vince and Joyce share a long kiss after reconciling. They kiss again during a closing sequence. SMOKING All four members of the Rizzo family smoke on the sly without telling one another. There are at least two dozen scenes in the film that feature at least one of these characters smoking. Some scenes involve the characters smoking while operating motor vehicles. Others involve one of the characters sneaking up to their home's rooftop to light up. Joyce pulls out a pack of cigarettes from her desk and invites a coworker to take a smoke break with her. At least two actors standing in a long audition are shown smoking. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Vince lives with the regret of having abandoned his pregnant girlfriend when he was 19, having fathered the child out of wedlock and leaving her to raise their son on her own. Vince has kept this a secret from his wife (the mother of his two other children) ever since they met. Vince does not tell Tony he is his father when he agrees to have Tony released into his custody. Tony refers to his late mother, who died four years before the events of this film, as a "drunk," a whore," and a "bitch." He tells Vince that she would sometimes use him to steal alcohol for her. A family dinner becomes a yelling match when Vince Jr. marvels at his sister's cleavage and tries to needle his father into confessing to having had sex with Tony's mother years earlier. Molly confesses to Vince that she has left her husband and her three children as she feels unfulfilled and wants to see if she can erase the past by playing the part of a single woman. All of the family's secrets come out in one big climactic sequence in which Joyce thinks Vince has brought Molly home to sleep with her, Vince thinks Joyce and Tony have had sex, Tony has brought Vivian home from the strip club and forces her to confess she is no longer in school, and Vince finally admits that he is Tony's father and that he has been keeping his identity secret ever since he met Joyce. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Telling lies within a family and the often painful results. Dreams deferred. Following one's bliss. The harmful effects of smoking. Internet pornography. Obesity. Using acting techniques as a means of bearing one's soul. VIOLENCE Vince slaps Vince Jr. hard on the back of the head when he is inappropriate at the dinner table. In trying to convince Vince that acting is easy, Tony verbally imagines a violent scenario in prison where he would have to fight in order to gain respect. Vince is so preoccupied with talking to Vivian while driving that he plows into the back of a car stopped at a traffic light. Tony confesses to having held up a jewelry store, robbing a pharmacy, and other crimes in his past. Tony kicks a chair hard in the shed where he is staying. Vince relates the violent ways of prison life to two casting directors as he prepares to audition for a Martin Scorsese movie, echoing what Tony said earlier in the picture. Vivian slaps Tony hard across the face, prompting him to briefly manhandle her and handcuff her to the front door handle of Joyce's car. Vince comically chases Tony with a large knife after he learns Tony may have been intimate with his wife. Their quarrel spills outside where Vince kicks the younger man hard in the crotch, then handcuffs him to a pole and punches him. Reviewed May 5, 2010 / Posted May 7, 2010

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