On Y List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
The Yards (2000)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
5/24
5/24:
Shot in 1998 but released two years later, The Yards is a high-quality picture about corruption involving the New York City
Transit Authority with a strong ensemble cast (four Oscar wins among nineteen nominations).
I wondered why I had never heard of it before. That's because the box-office intake was about $900,000 against a budget of
$24 million. Obviously, James Gray is an outstanding filmmaker as evidenced by Little Odessa
and We Own the Night. The Gordon Willis-like cinematography proves to be a strong asset
throughout The Yards which was handled by Harris Savides who died of brain cancer in 2012 at age 55.
Joaquin Phoenix gives the best performance of his career. After seeing James Caan and Faye Dunaway on screen, I immediately
thought of anything they had done together during the 70's, and my mind went blank. Hence, this is their only film. At any rate,
they regain what made them great once upon a time with James Cann finally getting his chance to play the Godfather.
Repeating his Boogie Nights form, Mark Wahlberg is surprisingly good although he's a
terrible actor overall. Yet I don't feel sorry for his character after he turned down the chance to be a machinist after two
years of education by wanting to take a shortcut in life. As a result, the bottom falls out, and that's Willie Gutierrez's
fault for not being smart.
All in all, if you liked Sidney Lumet's films plus City Hall, The Yards should be right
up your alley.