.. |
THE YARDS
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars: Mark
Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, Faye Dunaway, James Caan
Director: James Gray
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Surround
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Studio: Miramax
Features: See Review
Length: 115 Minutes
Release Date: April 17, 2001
Film
***1/2
There are
few movie formulas that I never get tired of, one of which is the urban crime genre. These
films consists of characters who live in a world of crime, or are trying to go straight
and end back up in business, etc. Such a film is The Yards, which could easily be
considered a combination of The Godfather and Mean Streets, two films that
pioneered this genre almost simultaneously in the early 70s. Such other films of this
nature include Carlitos Way, Scarface, and director Ted Demmes
overlooked gem Monument Ave., which was more or less a retelling of Mean Streets
only set in Boston. This film follows the
formula faithfully thanks to very superb cast. This isnt a happy film. Many of the
characters are either filled with regret over the life theyve lead, or are still
very much involved in corrupt work that they dont even realize it. To sum it up, The
Yards is very much a tale of urban tragedy.
Set in New
York City, the film is an account of a powerful business organization that is secretly
harboring crooked affairs, involving mostly that of racketeering. The director of the
film, James Gray, based a lot of the story on events that occurred in his life. Grays
father was involved in a stunning racketeering scandal in 1986, which resulted in the
suicide of Donald Manes, who was the borough president of Queens. Manes took his own life
when it was known that he had taken payoffs. Therefore, Grays film is without a
doubt a very personal piece. It begins with its central character, Leo Handler, played
with a somber brilliance by Mark Wahlberg. Leo is returning home from a four-year sentence
for which he took the rap for his friends for an auto-theft charge. Once at home, he is
instantly greeted with a surprise welcome home party, put together by his best friend
Willie (Joaquin Phoenix), who also happens to be in love with Leos cousin, Erica
(Charlize Theron), who is very close to Leo. All Leo wants is to work an honest job, so
that he can take care of his ill mother, Val (Ellen Burstyn). Vals sisters
husband is Frank (James Caan), who is a successful businessman and a terrific provider for
the family.
Leo looks to
Frank for a possible job as a machinist, which will require an apprenticeship. Leo needs
some quick cash, and looks to Willie for help. Willie leads a crew that works as muscle
for Frank in the yards, which are the citys train tracks where frequent payoffs and
kickbacks take place. Willie is eager to bring Leo in on his team, and his first night
working with them. This simple business deal goes terribly wrong, resulting in the murder
of a yardmaster, and Leo assaulting a cop, but defending himself at the same time. The cop
later fingers Leo, since it was the only person he saw at the time, as the suspected
killer of the yardmaster, though he knows, as well as us, that he did no such act.
Betrayed by those whom he trusted to get a clean start from, Leo is now on the run, but he
intends to clear his name, as well as expose the corruption within his family in a very
satisfying conclusion.
This cast is
simply a knockout. Wahlberg as I mentioned earlier, maintains a level of sorrow and
sympathy in his character, even though he was willing to participate in what he knew was a
criminal act. Leo maybe flawed, but by the end, we root for him to win and to gain his
freedom back. Joaquin Phoenix, coming off his brilliant villainous presence in Gladiator,
delivers once again as Willie, whos perhaps the most complex character in the film.
He has good intentions, but winds up going too far in trying to make the wrong things
right. Finally, theres the great James Caan, firing up another winning performance
as Uncle Frank, the leader of the ring, whos also quite a complex character because
he is very much working on both sides of the law. Hes only corrupt because from his
point of view, those who do not break the law dont remain in his line of business
for long, which is the centered of the complicated lifestyle plaguing this family.
A storyline
such as the one in The Yards might not be a totally fresh one, but thats not
to say that the finished movie is a riveting piece of quality filmmaking. Director James
Gray really deserves a lot of credit for having the courage to bringing this personal
chapter in his familys life to the screen. This tragedy is perfectly realized
through the intense performances from the cast, and Grays top-notch directing.
Miramax
delivers with perhaps its most impressive transfer in quite sometime. The video quality on
The Yards is consistently sharp, very clear, and deprived of a single inch of
grain. This anamorphic presentation also is vibrant in its colors, and being that most of
the scenes take place at night, the picture is still a hundred percent flawless and
terrifically seen in true DVD perfection.
A very
acceptable use of Dolby Digital audio. The movie is mostly a quiet, moody kind, with no
more than dialogue to serve for sound, but such distinct sounds as running subways and
various other sounds are picked up very well. The sound quality is given a plus in that
regard.
Miramax is
usually a hit or miss studio regarding the extras department. Most of the time, their
releases wont contain a single feature at all except the film itself, but every so
often, such as the recent release of Bounce, they will include everything but the
kitchen sink. For The Yards, Miramax gives a respectable amount of effort,
including an audio commentary by director James Gray, a behind the scenes documentary, a
series of original conceptual art, and trailers for this film, as well as other Miramax
releases, including The Cider House Rules, Cop Land, Immortality, Jerry and Tom,
Reindeer Games, and the recent remake of Hamlet with Ethan Hawke.
Summary:
The Yards
is a perfect homage to the early works of Scorsese and Coppola, with a personal touch on
the side. Urban dramas almost always deliver on a powerhouse level, and if its that
which you are seeking for, The Yards is right up your alley.