City Island [Blu-ray] [Import]

Hadn't seen this movie and took a chance on it. It came in perfect condition, loved the movie, smooth sailing all around.

I must confess I've had a "thing" for Andy Garcia ever since I first saw him in "Godfather 3." He was gorgeous and sexy in his role as a tough, dangerous Mafia type in that blockbuster film. I thrilled at his love scenes with Sofia Coppola. He was hot!

I could not picture my "find" being a comic, but this movie opened my eyes to Garcia's versatility. He is hilarious as Vince Rizzo in City Island where he plays a prison guard (he prefers the title "correction officer"). He appears to have a normal family life with a beautiful wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies), a mouthy son Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller) and a collegiate daughter Vivian (Dominik Garcia-Lorido). But all is not as it seems...

Vince has a big secret that he can't share with his family: he's taking acting classes and is a bit ashamed to admit it because he never shared those aspirations with his family. The fun begins with the hi-jinx he pulls to guard his secret ambition. To further complicate matters his acting partner (Emily Mortimer) urges him on... And, guess what?: She has secrets of her own.

And then Vince discovers that one of his inmates (Steven Strait) is his illegitimate son...which is another secret. He arranges to have the young man released in his custody and brings him to live with his family. Which makes matters worse because his son doesn't know Vince is his father and the family is completely in the dark about why this "con" is suddenly thrust upon them.

And what secrets do members of his family have? Where is his daughter when she's supposed to be in college? What kinky secrets does his young son have? And why does his faithful wife suddenly get a hankering for his illegitimate son when she's always been faithful? Surprisingly, Vince's secret son turns out to be the voice of reason in this movie. How does he save the day?

You'll learn the answers to all those questions in this rollicking movie that's filled with warmth and humor. Writer/director Raymond De Felitta has created one of the funniest movies I've seen in ages. Kudos to him and the entire cast for making this sweet, charming movie so engaging from start to finish.

You know that old saying: "What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive?" Well, this movies proves the truth in that...in the most delightful way.

Highly recommended for the entire family.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, September 12, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books

An interesting sub-genre in comedies and dramas is the dysfunctional family genre. There are many great films, mediocre films, and downright bad films included in this group, among the best being The Royal Tenenbaums, The Family Stone, Home for the Holidays, even National Lampoons Vacation. But there is a new film to join the ranks of the best ones, and it is brought to us by writer and director Raymond De Felitta. The film is City Island, and part of the reason for its inclusion here is the patriarch performance of Andy Garcia.

City Island is the story of the Rizzo family. Patriarch Vince Rizzo is a corrections officer with big dreams of being an actor, which he hides from his wife in the disguise of a gambling addiction. The main goal of City Island is just to give us a look at a family during a turning point in all of their intertwined relationships, and it works beautifully.

Andy Garcia, who has been out of the spotlight for some time, but remains one of Hollywood's unsung greats, is fantastic as Vince Rizzo. The fact that he would rather his wife think he is a gambler than an aspiring actor pretty much sums up the dysfunction in the Rizzo family. Julianne Margulies is Vince's wife Joyce, who is pretty much fed up with their life and fed up with Vince. With Emily Mortimer and Alan Arkin rounding out the acting talent, you really can't go wrong with City Island. The pacing is tight, the family dynamic is familiar and relatable in a far too realistic manner, and the humor keeps coming, in a fresh and genuine way. City Island is the hidden gem at this late point in our summer, and I highly recommend going out and picking it up or at least renting it. If you want to spend a while with a family that will make you feel better about your own, give City Island a shot. And welcome back Andy Garcia while you're at it.