Liberty Heights

R

Released Nov 17, 1999

2 hr. 7 min.

Comedy

Drama

Music

Romance

List

86%

49 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

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Critics Consensus

A moving film with moments of humor, Liberty Heights succeeds in capturing the feel of the '50s with great performances and sensitive direction.

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steve d

somewhat entertaining but the script is nothing special.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

nefasto r

It's a very likable Jewish/Coming of age story. Very likable because all the characters are smart and well written, because there is good 50s music all over the movie, because coming of age usually are. The problem, if anything, is that is too likable! I mean, when the dramatic parts come through the end, they are not very dramatic at all! It ss like they have been sprinkled over with a some "Disney" powder! They miss some mordant! Even the bad guys are good people! That is why for me is not a great movie, but still a very enjoyable one.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was a pretty good movie, but it needed something more to make it great. I liked it, but I did not love it. The best parts of this movie were the scenes with Ben and Sylvia; they really brought the film to life.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Perhaps Levinson's last hurrah, 'Heights' is sweet, understated and even cheeky. Of course, aside from a great cast of charismatic youngsters, the film pulls off a fine balancing act of teen romance with statements about social and racial affairs of the time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

always a good way to spend the night throwback

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

alex z

Great coming of age story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Barry Levinson

Director

Adrien Brody

Van Kurtzman

Ben Foster

Ben Kurtzman

Orlando Jones

Little Melvin

Bebe Neuwirth

Ada Kurtzman

Joe Mantegna

Nate Kurtzman

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David Ansen

Newsweek

By focusing on such a specific milieu, he keeps the genre alive with his great ear for small talk, an elegant eye and a warm, forgiving heart. This is nostalgia bottled and aged with care.

Mar 6, 2018

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Mar 22, 2002

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 21, 2001

Full Review

Andy Greenwald

Spin

Liberty Heights is yet another entry in that most Vaseline-smeared of all film genres -- Jewish family learns life lessons in post-WWII America -- but one with a low-key charm.

Dec 28, 2022

Full Review

Armond White

New York Press

It's atrocious. Twisted sociology.

Jun 28, 2019

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Director: Barry Levinson
Executive Producer: Patrick McCormick
Screenwriter: Barry Levinson
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Baltimore Pictures, Spring Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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