On Broadway

On Broadway is the first film that I have seen that truly captures the intensity, rich tradition and beauty of Boston and its people.

It is a great story and it is incredibly believable. The shots of Boston are fantastic. There were so many moments that I smiled or laughed right out loud because the dialogue could easily have come from my own family, both past and present.

There were several scenes where the plot could have taken a turn towards something more risqué, violent or crude. But Dave McLaughlin did a fantastic job at implying intimacy and the tension that existed in the family without ever cheapening the film.

So many other film makers begin with a mediocre story and fill in the blanks with a bunch of "F'ing" this and "F'ing" that and as much sex as possible. He has an amazing story, great character development and he used "real" Boston shots.

Unlike so many other films set in Boston, all of the actors resisted the temptation to over emphasize the Boston accent. Again, it just felt natural.

The film portrays the city as physically beautiful, spirited and artistic. That's a far cry from the plethora of films in the past that portray us all as one dimensional drunken Red Sox loving/Yankee Hating jerks who can't "tawk" right. Don't get me wrong...the evil empire still must fall...but there's more to us than just that.

And contrary to what recent films would have you believe, we are not a bunch of gangsters or thugs. While those films may be entertaining, the story in On Broadway reminds us what loyalty, family and tradition really mean.

A great film that should not be missed.

I saw On Broadway at the IFF Boston in a packed theater. I was not expecting much going in but to my surprise I really enjoyed it. The story was uplifting with a good balance of comedy and drama, despite the fact the film starts out with and revolves around a fatal accident. It is the characters themselves that bring the film to life and carry it through to the end. Superb storytelling with both touching emotional moments and character dialogue that made me laugh throughout. In the end, the film has a redeeming quality that leaves you satisfied as you exit the theater. Even weeks later, I find myself repeating joke or piece of dialogue from the film that made me laugh. Probably the best independent film I've seen this year and definitely worthy of a place on the DVD rack.

It never ceases to amaze me how different people are so different - how anyone could watch this film and say 'its not great' is just beyond me. The story was written by someone who has lived it, and will immediately be recognised by those who have travelled that path. In reading the reviews so far you could be forgiven for thinking that the story was about families, about Boston, about father and son reconciliation (and maybe it is and its me who missed the point). It spoke to me, however, about the leap of faith, the courage and the determination an ordinary mortal needs to become a writer, and how, for a story to be anything more than a fleeting moment among neurons, the writer must become a magnet for good people to join him/her - a messiah of sorts.

There were moments in the film that felt like the final rehearsal before the scene should be shot (when Pete and wife have their first argument springs to mind), but to me that lack of Hollywood gloss just made the whole thing even more real.

If you have anything to do with story-telling, or you have aspirations in that direction, then you will not just enjoy this film, you will benefit from it.

I actually got to see the world premiere of this film at The Independent Film Festival of Boston. I was excited to see it since there was so much buzz surrounding it. The premiere was a lot of fun, Joey McIntyre, Eliza Dushku, Will Arnett and the director were all there. Anyway about the movie, The first few minutes of the film did not look too promising. The pacing and editing seemed off, however after that the movie became very fun. The story was enjoyable and funny and at times moving. The acting was not bad, I was especially surprised by Joey McIntyre who puts in a believable performance. Eliza Dushku was great as the sexy, crazy supporting female role. The rest of the cast was great as well, especially Will Arnett who was hilarious and Amy Poehler who provides much laughter in a short cameo. By the end of the movie you feel as if you are a part of the cast, you feel like you know the characters. This is one big ode to Boston, a film that will make all Bostonians proud. Despite some awkward editing and cheesy moments, this is simply a short, sweet film. An unpretentious, enjoyable movie.

This movie, small though it is, is brilliant. It has real heart and a genuine love for its subject. I knew none of the actors in On Broadway but they all turned in wonderfully "real" performances. All through the film I found myself willing the main character Jack to succeed in his desire to write, stage and direct his first play inspired by his beloved uncle's death, in spite of fierce opposition from his father. The relationships between the characters whether familial or romantic are portrayed in a really authentic way and are totally believable. I want to see anything else written or directed by its author/director as he has a fantastic talent which should be encouraged and nurtured. Its on Sky TV in |uk at the moment so try to catch it if you can.