Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

spelvini The first thing that may strike the viewer about the excellently-paced inside-joke feature City Island is the voice over of the lead character Vince Rizzo as he relates the history of the island and how it interacts to other inhabitants in the New York area. This isn't much of a digression as it is background on how Vince Rizzo thinks and in retrospect, this particular detail could have been improved to make the most of the theme of the film, which following your heart truthfully is always the easiest road to happiness.On City Island, New York, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) makes a living as a corrections officer while his wife Joyce Rizzo (Julianna Margulies) holds a job as a secretary as their daughter Vivian (Dominik García-Lorido) attends university upstate. Vince has dreamed of an acting career for years and has memorized all of Marlon Brando's best scenes, while also sneaking away one night a week to take acting classes in the city. When Vince discovers young Tony (Steven Strait) locked up in jail he realizes that the young man is his biological son and has him released in his custody. Pretending to his wife and children that the gesture is based in good faith only, Vince puts Tony to work rebuilding his garage, but Joyce is more than curious, and in more than platonic ways. Meanwhile Vivian has her own secrets, and son Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller) exhibits a young boy's fascination with a next-door neighbor that seems a little too grown up. When Vince is urged by his acting partner Molly (Emily Mortimer) to attend an open call for a film, a surprising opportunity opens up, and Vince finds he must face facts and tell everything.In regards to "happiness", the film seems to want to have its cake, and eat it too. On the one hand it has an excellent cast, all top-notch actors in complete command of their instruments, but who all have to make the most of a thinly script with one or two good ideas that are played into the ground. It's okay though because the movie will bring a smile to your face, even if you might not be in on the inside jokes about what being an actor really means.They say that actors live lives of quiet desperation, always wanting to play the great role that will allow their souls freedom and a chance to proclaim their secret desires to the world. Vince's own repressed desire to act, like "Brando" and involvement with fellow acting student Emily Mortimer's Molly leads him to visualizing a new life for himself, and is leading him into an incipient love affair with the actress.Any actor watching this movie (and it is for actors) will laughingly cringe as he watches Vince audition with an affected Marlon Brando mannerism that has become the identifying joke for many comedians through the years making fun of the actor. Why or how the casting director asks Vince to stay is a mystery, but remains one of the plot points in the film that keep us watching to see just how far this comic love story will carry us.The funny bits of business in the movie make up for the overall lack of structure. This is a comedy of manners, and the family that is reunited at the end is one dysfunctional, but happy union. It's a surprise that this is what the film has been moving toward all the time. At times it alternately feels like so many things. All in all it doesn't hit very hard, and it leaves you with a great feeling.It's too bad that the story line involving Emily Mortimer's acting partner Molly doesn't carry more substance. With Julianna Margulies' affection-starved Joyce Rizzo on the move in a love embrace with a younger man (no spoilers her- you'll know who it is in the first twenty minutes of the movie), we are led to believe that this will be a marriage drama. It's a great turn-around and will surprise you to boot.

Tim Kidner Andy Garcia with a heart? True - here he's an average, flawed but decent and at times vulnerable family man, who has more success communicating with his charges at the correctional facility where he works as a guard than he does with his own family.In a low-key and heart-warming movie, the individual characters radiate individuality - aside of Garcia, (Vince Rizzo) there's his blunt and free-spirited (OK, bossy!) wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), college student daughter, who's dropped out to do a spot of stripping and their teenage son, who has a sexual fetish for BBW's...(and he gets to spy on one and meet her!)The family know nothing of each of their individual 'pursuits' - add to the mix Vince's poker sessions with the boys that are actually acting classes, run by that wonderful old sage, Alan Arkin, typically and sardonically treating us to a gentle belittling of his students. British Emily Mortimer sticks to her native accent as Vince's friend, who he gets to slowly confide in. Many will find Garcia's fumbled and over- acted, or under-acted? amateur dramatics very funny, as he hopelessly impersonates every gangster stereotype possible, with Brando's 'method' acting ripe for a swipe.Rizzo also manages to get some cheap, unofficial labour so he can build a bespoke bathroom - who this is, the effect he has on them all and who he turns out to be is a whole extra story, interwoven with the rest. Affectionately filmed in the Bronx, this has a community feel about it and the film's title refers to that place in one's mind and imagination in which to take a break - to think and reflect.What's best about it all is that it's comfortable with itself. It doesn't try too hard - it knows its place and with its affectionate heart, interesting characters, most will find City Island nicely satisfying.

Adrien Rain Wonderful movie. You laugh easily!But The only thing i wonder is what the purpose of Ezra Miller's character, Vince Jr, was. I mean, the father, the mother and the daughter had their secrets revealed in a very awkward and funny moment. The son's didn't exploded. In my opinion, the director & writer already had his movie without him.That's why i'll not give him a straight A. But 8 out of 10 is already good, isn't it?Anyway, it's a good comedy. I strongly recommend y'all to see it, you sure at hell will not regret.

niceguy44 Everyone has their secrets, and as they are disclosed there is unexpected forgiveness. I enjoy movies and plays that open up lines of discussion afterward, and this movie allowed us so many avenues of thought, we talked longer than the 104 minutes of movie length. Everything worked. Every scene meant something. There were no villains. Everyone grew. The music was thoughtful and added to the moment, while giving an overall atmosphere. See it on DVD later to get the cast and directors' comments, that will give insight to the power that individuals made during production. I am a better person because I watched this movie, and to me that makes a movie special.