The Yards (2000)

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he ... See full summary »

Director:

James Gray

Writers:

James Gray, Matt Reeves

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Wahlberg	...	Leo Handler
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Willie Gutierrez
Charlize Theron	...	Erica Soltz
James Caan	...	Frank Olchin
Ellen Burstyn	...	Val Handler
Faye Dunaway	...	Kitty Olchin
Steve Lawrence	...	Arthur Mydanick
Andy Davoli	...	Raymond Price (as Andrew Davoli)
Tony Musante	...	Seymour Korman
Victor Argo	...	Paul Lazarides
Tomas Milian	...	Manuel Sequiera
Robert Montano	...	Hector Gallardo
Victor Arnold	...	Albert Granada
Chad Aaron	...	Bernard Soltz
Louis Guss	...	Nathan Grodner

Storyline

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts. Willie Gutierrez, Leo's best friend, is Frank's bag man and heads a crew of midnight saboteurs who ruin the work of the Puerto Rican-owned firm. Leo needs a job, so Willie pays him to be his back-up. Then things go badly wrong one night, a cop IDs Leo, and everyone now wants him out of the picture. Besides his ailing mom and his cousin Erica, to whom can Leo turn?

---

Plot Keywords:

corruption | prison | friend | subway | kiss | 

---

Taglines:

He's the target of the most merciless family in New York. His own.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc [jp] Miramax Home Video

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 April 2000 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

A bűn állomásai

Filming Locations:

39 India Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£110,716 (UK) (10 November 2000)

Gross:

$882,710 (USA) (17 November 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Industry Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Just before the fight scene, Joaquin Phoenix really did hit Charlize Theron, and really took a tumble down the stairs.

---

Goofs

The cars in the "subway yard" are not actually subway cars; they are circa-1963 suburban commuter coaches for the Metro-North & Long Island Railroads.

---

Connections

Features E! News (1998)

---

Soundtracks

"R.E.A.L.I.T.Y."
(1995)
Written by KRS-One (as Lawrence Parker)
Performed by KRS-One (as Krs-One)
Courtesy of Jive Records

User Reviews

Awesome - a classic

The Yards is simply one of those classic movies rare to find these days. Unfortunately it hasn't achieved much success (At least in my country), and that's a crying shame. I really can't see why, because it's got everything that makes a movie good (Great acting, a great cast, and a well-developed storyline). This is one of those films I need to see again just for the pleasure of it.

Nothing else to say, simply watch it whenever you have the chance. You won't be disappointed.

10/10.