The Saint of Fort Washington (1993)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Tim Hunter

Writer (WGA):

Lyle Kessler (written by)

Release Date:

17 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Matthew, a young schizophrenic, finds himself out on the street when a slumlord tears down his apartment building...

Plot Keywords:

Homelessness | Mental Illness | Reference To The Lone Ranger | Street Kid | Homeless Man

Cast

Danny Glover	...	Jerry / Narrator
Matt Dillon	...	Matthew
Rick Aviles	...	Rosario
Nina Siemaszko	...	Tamsen, Rosario's Girl
Ving Rhames	...	Little Leroy, Fort Washington Bully
Joe Seneca	...	Spits, Rosario's Roommate
Harry Ellington	...	Arthur
Ralph Hughes	...	Jason, Homeless boy at Fort Washington
Bahni Turpin	...	Gloria
Robert Beatty	...	Ex-Pharmacist
Reuben Schafer	...	Greek Man
Louis Williams	...	Ennis
Adam Trese	...	John
Kevin Corrigan	...	Peter
Brian Tarantina	...	Fred

Runtime:

Spain:108 min | UK:103 min | USA:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Carrie Productions Inc.

Trivia:

In order to research his role in the film, Danny Glover actually went incognito as a homeless person to get the feel for the struggles and hardship that homeless people endure.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Two different people said that Fort Washington Armory was in two different parts of the city. The guard at the family shelter told Matthew, "You're in the wrong place. You got to go downtown to Fort Washington." Later in the movie, at Fort Washington, Little Leroy said to Matthew, "We here at Washington Heights (where Ft. Wash. Armory is located). That's in the northern tip of the island of Manhattan, ..." Downtown is southern Manhattan.

Quotes:

Jerry: A dime, Matthew! A dime!

Soundtrack:

LO QUE TRAE RUMBAVANA

Makes you wonder how Russell Crowe got an Oscar before Matt Dillon.

I first saw this movie on late night cable several years ago and found myself riveted to the point where I decided to tape it and now, 10 years later still find myself unable to record over it. It's just that good!! Matt Dillon and Danny Glover deliver performances subtle but powerful enough to make you forget they are actors. The New York locales add to the feeling of authenticity and makes you wonder if mayors past and present (including "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani) are barking up the wrong tree in attacking squeegie men trying to make a buck rather than concentrating on more important things.

Anyhow, back to the film: Ving Rhames appears as a thug our duo just can't seem to escape for as hard as they try to achieve their dreams, they are constantly forced to spend the night in a shelter with him. In seeing this film you also will be unable to shake feelings of frustration we all meet at one time or another at the hands of bureaucracy. Matt Dillon's character can't receive a check because he has no ID, Danny Glover can't mourn at a paupers cemetery because it's against regulations, etc.

This film is about trying to maintain hope, beauty, humor, dignity and caring when homeless and if this just sounds like your typical tear-jerker, just remember, as Glover's character points out when condescended by a yuppie: "three missed checks and that guy's living on the streets just like us." It's a powerful message when you begin to see just how hard it is to climb out of the pit once in it. Rent this film, you'll be be glad you did. This is a gem despite Leonard Maltin's half-assed review. This film deserves to be recognized more than it has been for Dillon proves he can act any of our "stars" under the table with just a filmless camera. You may need a hanky though. I can sit through the bloodiest of movies while eating yet this film moved me. I give this movie a 9.5 out of 10. SEE THIS MOVIE!!!