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Liberty Heights

R Released Nov 17, 1999 2h 7m Comedy Drama Music Romance List
86% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
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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Liberty Heights

Liberty Heights

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Stefan Pape Common Sense Media This coming-of-age drama manages to explore the racial politics of 1950s America, while maintaining a lightness that keeps it accessible and a welcome addition to the genre. Jun 5, 2024 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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
Producer
Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein
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
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital
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