Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Matt Dillon | ... | Tommy 'Birdman' Rowland | |
Noah Emmerich | ... | Michael 'Mo' Morris | |
Annabeth Gish | ... | Tracy Stover | |
Lauren Holly | ... | Darian Smalls | |
Timothy Hutton | ... | Willie Conway | |
Rosie O'Donnell | ... | Gina Barrisano | |
Max Perlich | ... | Kev | |
Martha Plimpton | ... | Jan | |
Natalie Portman | ... | Marty | |
Michael Rapaport | ... | Paul Kirkwood | |
Mira Sorvino | ... | Sharon Cassidy | |
Uma Thurman | ... | Andera | |
Pruitt Taylor Vince | ... | Stanley 'Stinky' Womack | |
Anne Bobby | ... | Sarah Morris | |
Richard Bright | ... | Dick Conway |
New York based jazz pianist Willie Conway heads back to his small hometown of Knights Ridge, Massachusetts for a high school reunion. The trip is as much to go to the reunion and see his old friends - none of whom left Knights Ridge after graduation - as it is to get away from his current life, at which he is at a crossroads both personally and professionally. He is just eking out a living with his piano playing gigs, and as such he is thinking about taking a sales job. He's also not sure if he's ready to marry his long time girlfriend, lawyer Tracy Stover. Most of Willie's Knights Ridge blue collar friends' best days were in high school, they still having that "trophy" mentality of girlfriends and wives. Only Michael "Mo" Morris is happily married with a family. Paul Kirkwood, whose room is plastered with magazine pictures of models, wants his waitress ex-girlfriend Jan back only because he knows now that he can't have her. And Tommy "Birdman" Rowland, who was the big man in high ... Written by Huggo
Update 7/1/11 I still love this movie!! I have to watch it at least once a year and I can't say that about too many movies (I've now seen this more than Star Wars IV). Please allow yourself time to kick back and enjoy a very believable story of Anywhere USA Americana. Below is my original review from many years ago. Thanks
Prior Review--
I love this movie. Too bad Demme is Donne because this is great work. Every single role is believable and not over-acted. Maybe it's my 30 something (now 40 something) mind working but this is a great movie to sit down and enjoy. Nothing blows up and I can't recall a single car chase but if you can allow yourself to get involved with a storyline, this is for you.
You can fall in love with Natalie Portman and I don't know that I've ever seen Rapaport in a better role. There isn't anyone more anti Rosie Odonell than me, but even her role is great. The bad news for friends and family is that I've stolen many lines from this flick because I'm not original enough to come up with my own stuff.
"What's he all creased about"
I would be first in line to purchase a (another) DVD that is Dolby Digital and has some extras. Lastly, don't miss the soundtrack, there is a great blend of feel good music along with some new, cool licks.