Unstrung Heroes (1995)

Steven Lidz, unhappy with his home life since his mother got sick, goes and lives with his two crazy Uncles. There he changes and gets closer to his Uncles, but his parents want him home ... See full summary »

Director:

Diane Keaton

Writers:

Franz Lidz (book), Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)

Stars:

Andie MacDowell, John Turturro, Michael Richards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andie MacDowell	...	Selma Lidz
John Turturro	...	Sid Lidz
Michael Richards	...	Danny Lidz
Maury Chaykin	...	Arthur Lidz
Nathan Watt	...	Steven / Franz Lidz
Anne De Salvo	...	May
Celia Weston	...	Amelia
Jack McGee	...	Lindquist
Candice Azzara	...	Joanie (as Candy Azzara)
Kendra Krull	...	Sandy Lidz
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Ash (as Joey Andrews)
Lillian Adams	...	Aunt Estelle
Lou Cutell	...	Uncle Melvin
Sumer Stamper	...	Nancy Oppenheim
Sean P. Donahue	...	Ralph Crispi (as Sean Donahue)

Storyline

Steven Lidz, unhappy with his home life since his mother got sick, goes and lives with his two crazy Uncles. There he changes and gets closer to his Uncles, but his parents want him home even though he is finally happy and popular.

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Plot Keywords:

uncle | ball | inventor | 1960s | eccentric | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes you find your heroes in the most unlikely places.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Entfesselte Helden

Filming Locations:

Alverno High School - 200 North Michillinda Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$7,929,241 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Roth-Arnold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Henry Winkler auditioned for the role of Danny Lidz. He arrived in character and in full costume.

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Quotes

Danny Lidz: People - they get trapped in their own history unless someone shows them a way out.

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Connections

References Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

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Soundtracks

"You Are My Sunshine"
Written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc.

User Reviews

It feels true

Based on Steven Lidz's memoir of his childhood in New York. His father is (we are told) a brilliant inventor; Steven adores his mother and is adored in return. Steven's relatives include two genially crazy uncles, Danny and Arthur, who live together in an apartment across town. Precise diagnoses are never discussed and their behavior is seen from the point of view of a boy, but they both appear to have variants of schizophrenia, Danny being paranoid and Arthur more undifferentiated. Steven's almost blissful family life is cruelly interrupted when his mother becomes ill with cancer. Unhappy with his home life after the change, he 'runs away' to live with his uncles. Their apartment is a crowded archive of their mental illness. Steven is alternately fascinated and mortified by their bizarre behavior, but by sharing their world, he becomes a better person. This movie has no real plot or payoff, but it is captivating and moving. My upbringing was completely different from Steven's, but as a member of a Jewish family that has produced both some very bright people and some very crazy people, I can say that the film conveys the accuracy of 'felt life'. It is the antithesis of today's usual deadly conformist, formulaic and violence-ridden Hollywood films.

Nathan Watt does a very good job as Steven. John Turturro as his father is part of the long and distinguished tradition in American film and television of Italians playing Jews (and vice versa); he's done it at least once before ("Barton Fink"). You can't help but see a bit of Cosmo Kramer in Michael Richards's performance as Danny. Best of all was Arthur as played by that shambling, rumpled Canadian bear Maury Chaikin. Most of the IMDb reviews rave about Andie MacDowell, but this Jewish reviewer feels that in fact she was woefully miscast as Steven's mother Selma; in her looks, her speech, her mannerisms, her body language, and her demeanor, she totally fails to convince as a New York Jewish woman. This was the sort of role that should have gone to someone like Lisa Edelstein, Bette Midler, Tovah Feldshuh or Debra Winger.