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Downtown Express

Play trailer Poster for Downtown Express 2011 1h 30m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
As an important recital draws near, a Russian violin student (Philippe Quint) at Juilliard becomes torn between two worlds when he falls in love with a New York street musician (Nellie McKay).

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Sheri Linden Los Angeles Times The unconvincing but gently spirited "Jazz Singer" update features accomplished musicians in the lead roles; the treat is their playing, not their acting. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 23, 2012 Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Everyone seems so genuinely excited to be sharing their music on film that the entire experience becomes a joyful alliance between audience and actors. Rated: 3/5 Apr 20, 2012 Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter The film may be hopelessly old-fashioned, but it's hard to entirely resist its portrait of a city that not only never sleeps but also seems to be bursting with melody at every turn. Apr 19, 2012 Full Review Brent Simon Shockya.com Marked by wide-eyed charm, though not particularly adroit -- a marginal pan, owing to its somewhat lazy and functional narrative. Still, its music, from Philippe Quint and Nellie McKay, absolutely sings. Rated: C Sep 26, 2012 Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International "Tchaikovsky must be grabbed by the throat or it becomes sentimental," declares the paterfamilias in Downtown Express, but the character could be critiquing the very movie in which finds himself. Apr 26, 2012 Full Review Dan Lybarger eFilmCritic.com 'Downtown Express' is a charming, if somewhat familiar, movie that becomes extraordinary because it has astonishingly good music. Rated: 4/5 Apr 19, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (2) audience reviews
Audience Member looks very promising! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Unfortunately, I kept comparing it to the movie Once and found it wanting. The pop music did not come anywhere close and the story was not as interestingly told. But the street music and the classical music were wonderful as were the performances of Philippe Quint and Michael Cumpsty. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Downtown Express

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis As an important recital draws near, a Russian violin student (Philippe Quint) at Juilliard becomes torn between two worlds when he falls in love with a New York street musician (Nellie McKay).
Director
David Grubin
Producer
David Grubin, Michael Hausman
Screenwriter
David Grubin, Kathleen Cahill
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.5K
Runtime
1h 30m