The Yards
The Yards | |
---|---|
Nick Wechsler Paul Webster Kerry Orent | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Miramax Films Paul Webster/Industry Entertainment |
Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $24 million |
Box office | $889,352 (US)[1] |
The Yards is a 2000 American
Set in the
Plot
Leo Handler visits his mother Val's house in
At
With Rifkin in a coma at a hospital, the crew orders Leo to murder him to prevent him from identifying Leo when he awakens and escape certain death. Upon awakening, Rifkin identifies Leo as his attacker, triggering a broad manhunt. The police, assuming Leo also killed Gorwitz, raid Val's apartment, causing her to suffer from a near-fatal heart attack. Despite being instructed by Willie to keep a low profile, Leo emerges from hiding to visit a sick Val. While he is tending to her, Erica discovers Willie was with Leo at the yards and realizes he was the one who murdered Gorwitz, consequently ending her romantic relationship with him. Frank disowns Willie, who tries unsuccessfully to accept a deal offered to him earlier by Gallardo for protection.
Erica implores Frank to help, but instead Leo realizes that Frank is prepared to kill him. With no other options available, Leo desperately turns to Gallardo for protection. Accompanied by Gallardo's lawyers, Leo turns himself in at a public hearing into the rail yard incident and contract corruption. Realizing that Rifkin's testimony against Leo is in no one's interest, Frank and Gallardo negotiate a new split of the contracts with Queens Borough President Arthur Mydanick in a backroom deal. Willie visits Erica, wanting to reconcile with her, and disturbingly reveals to her that according to Frank, she and Leo had been in a romantic relationship when they were younger, and once were caught having sexual intercourse. Fearing his temper and jealousy, Erica triggers the silent house alarm. Willie frantically attempts to embrace her to avoid being exposed as unsuitable, but as she pulls away from him, he unintentionally throws Erica off the second floor landing to her death. Outside the house, he surrenders to the police, who have immediately responded to the alarm.
Police arrive at the hearing to inform Erica's mother Kitty and Frank of Erica's death. After Erica's funeral, Frank pulls Leo aside to promise help in the future, if he abstains from testifying at a hearing by the Attorney General, but Leo disgustedly rejects his offer. He ultimately testifies against Frank, Arthur, Willie, and the others involved in the political corruption surrounding The Yards, before departing from Queens on the elevated train.
Cast
- Mark Wahlberg as Leo Handler
- Joaquin Phoenix as Willie Gutierrez
- Charlize Theron as Erica Soltz
- James Caan as Frank Olchin
- Ellen Burstyn as Val Handler
- Faye Dunaway as Kitty Olchin
- Steve Lawrence as Arthur Mydanick
- Tony Musante as Seymour Korman
- Victor Argo as Paul Lazarides
- Tomas Milian as Manuel Sequiera
- Robert Montano as Hector Gallardo
- Victor Arnold as Albert Granada
- Domenick Lombardozzi as Todd
- Joe Lisi as Elliot Gorwitz
- David Zayas as Officer Jerry Rifkin
- Joseph Ragno as Leo's parole officer
In addition, actual New York City-based news anchors Roma Torre, Lewis Dodley (as Louis Dodley)[2] and Ernie Anastos play news anchors seen reporting on incidents in the film.
Production
The film's director and co-screenwriter, James Gray, based the film on an actual corruption scandal in the mid-1980s, which involved his father.
The New York City Transit Authority, known as the MTA, initially disallowed the production companies from filming at any of its yards because it believed the film negatively portrayed the agency.
Filming locations included Roosevelt Island, Maspeth and Elmhurst, Queens, the Bronx, and New Jersey. The railyard scenes were shot at the MTA's Inwood, Manhattan, 207th Street Yard and shop, as well as an abandoned freight yard in Brooklyn.
It was shot in the spring and summer of 1998 but – due to studio delays – not released until the fall of 2000.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64%, based on 96 reviews, with an average rating of 5.93/10. The website's consensus reads, "Featuring strong performances and direction, The Yards is a richly textured crime thriller with an authentic feel."[3]
Box office
On a relatively limited release, the film, which had a $24 million budget, took in just $889,352 in the United States and Canada, and $34,684 in Australia.[1]
Awards
Won
- National Board of Review Awards(2000):
- Best Supporting Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
- Broadcast Film Critics Association(2001):
- Best Supporting Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
Nominated
- Cannes Film Festival (2000):
- Golden Palm Nomination: James Gray
- Golden Palm Nomination:
References
- ^ a b The Yards (2000). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Lewis Dodley — Evening Anchor". Spectrum News NY1. 2019-07-30. Archived from the original on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ The Yards at Rotten Tomatoes
External links
- Official website
- The Yards at IMDb
- The Yards at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Yards at Box Office Mojo