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Liberty Heights on DVD (1999)

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Average rating: 51%
8152061
2.5
from 700 members
 
Starring: Adrien Brody, Bebe Neuwirth, Joe Mantegna, Vincent Guastaferro, Richard Kline, Orlando Jones, Ben Foster, Justin Chambers, David Krumholtz, Rebekah Johnson, Carolyn Murphy
Director: Barry Levinson
Studio: WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time: 123 mins
Certificate: 15
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 01/10/2001

Brief synopsis of Liberty Heights

Returning once again to the Baltimore of his youth, director Barry Levinson adds another installment to his Baltimore Trilogy (DINER, TIN MEN, AVALON), tackling the emotionally charged subjects of anti-Semitism and racism--in addition to his standard themes of family, friendship, and loyalty--in LIBERTY HEIGHTS. In 1954, Ben Kurtzman (Ben Foster), a Jewish teen from Baltimore, is intrigued by the new girl in his class. The problem

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Barry Levinson has directed his share of large-scale productions, including Wag the Dog, Rain Man and Good Morning, Vietnam. But he has always seemed happiest handling smaller, more personal films such as Avalon and this. The setting is Levinson's home town of Baltimore in the mid-fifties, when blacks, Jews and Gentiles led separate lives of mutual intolerance. The plot traces the family conflict caused when one of two Jewish brothers falls for a wealthy Protestant girl, while the other tentatively courts an African-American. Beautifully acted and crafted with a terrific eye for period detail, Liberty Heights is one of those warm, uplifting films that lingers long in the mind.

Rolling Stone

"...It's in the bracing humor and touching humanity of his characters that [Levinson] catches the surface and the soul of an era..."

Time Out

'Where is the jawbone of an ass?' ponders young Ben Kurtzman (Foster). 'You mean there's an animal called an ass?!' We... Read more on www.timeout.com

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 1 starsAnother unwatchable levinson

nickgripton nickgripton from Hove , 31/01/2005

This movie was so utterly boring that I couldn't face watching the last 30mins, it seemed to go on forever and much like 'Envy', which was TERRIBLE, it didn't really seem to be going anywhere or have any kind of aim in its storytelling. Other than to bore you to tears. It had the ingredients to be something good, but somehow they were all wasted.

I will never watch another film by this director again no matter how good it is supposed to be. DO NOT RENT THIS - its rubbish!

  6 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsit was okay

A customer from wales , 01/04/2005

This film is focused mainly on the racial issues of the 1950's. While Adrian Brody is listed as lead actor, I found Ben Foster the most entertaining with the little antics he would get involved in. You actually felt for his character when he was unable to express his feelings for the girl he loves, just because of her colour.

Would recommend for a relaxing night in.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsexcellent screenplay

A customer from London, England , 18/07/2005

The screenplay is excellent with multiple plot lines running in parallel. This is one of the few movies where I could not predict the ending.

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Rated - 4 starsHigh flyer (he, he!)

A customer from Ripley, Surrey , 26/08/2005

This film is well worth renting. The ensemble cast is excellent especially Adrien Brody and Justin Chambers. Ben Foster as the Jewish boy trying to fit in also stands out though I was frustrated the whole time trying to work out what I had seen him in before!! (Russell in Six Feet Under). An entertaining touching film with real social comment on the times and religion.

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsit was okay

A customer from wales , 01/04/2005

This film is focused mainly on the racial issues of the 1950's. While Adrian Brody is listed as lead actor, I found Ben Foster the most entertaining with the little antics he would get involved in. You actually felt for his character when he was unable to express his feelings for the girl he loves, just because of her colour.

Would recommend for a relaxing night in.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsPretty good

bachgencaerdyd from Cardiff , 05/08/2006

This is a film for a wet sunday afternoon really.It delivered an good non-hollywood standard ending, I couldn't get myself into the film.

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