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.

Set in the Irish Catholic neighborhood in south Boston, on Broadway is a worthwhile film about family, friends and the courage to follow a dream - no matter what. I had the opportunity to see the film at the Phoenix film festival, where it was the Sundance Channel Audience Award Winner. I was moved by the relationships among the characters. The film is well acted and well cast. The soundtrack was perfect for the movie.

Dave McLaughlin, writer and director, was at the film festival. Not only is he very talented, but also a genuinely nice person.

For me, a movie where I can laugh and cry is a winner. On Broadway has it all. I hope this film gets wide release.

I was actually dragged to this film against my will by my wife since she is a huge Joey McIntyer fan. It was being shown at the Boston Independent Film Festival and I was handed a green slip before entering the theater to vote for the movie on a 1-5 scale, 1 being the lowest. I didn't know what to expect, I had no idea what this movie was about and I was fully prepared to hate it, but by 10 minutes into the movie I had already ripped a 5. The writing was amazing, it was well acted and full of humor and sorrow, running the full gambit of emotions. On Broadway is about a man named Jack (McIntyer) who's uncle dies and through the process of grief, he gets the idea to write a play. The man's family is against him, feeling that it is a crazy idea in the first place and that he should just leave writing plays to the professionals. Throughout the film he struggles to put the play together in the memory of his late uncle in hopes to break through to his father who hasn't been the same since he lost his leg in an accident when Jack was a young boy. No spoilers here because I want folks to seek this film out to find out how it ends. The cast was amazing, they were truly believable and often reminded me of people I have known in my life. My favorite character was Neil played by Lucas Caleb Rooney. He was a genuine character and his story of the smart-Aleck friend who falls for the actress who's way out of his league was beautiful. I urge theater owners to show this film and for theater goers to seek it out. This is a film for anyone who has had a dream they wanted to fulfill, for struggling writers, or someone who lost someone they loved.

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.

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.