Alberto and the Concrete Jungle

I enjoyed this movie from start to finish! Chris Shimojima does a wonderful job with snapshot views of NYC and lines of travel that give us a glimpse into Alberto Buenaventura's free spirit and wanderlust. Anyone who has spent any amount of time living in NYC will delight in the visual tour of NY's neighborhoods, with local characters and communities that are distinct and vibrant. Alejandro Santoni, who could be a twin of Lin Manuel Miranda, depicted Buenaventura with gusto and charm, drawing you in to his nomadic drive and insatiable curiosity to meet people in places all over the world. His encounter with the equal in strength Marina Giovanni Caron, wittingly played by Julie Voshell, brings a twist to the tale, with unpredictable turns of events layered with slightly more predictable (but engaging) mutual attraction. It takes time throughout the film to figure out their mutual goals and drives, in the hunt for "Z", but it comes together and is highly entertaining. Along the way, they connect with characters from all over, with standout performances by David Pendleton (Darles Chickens) and Rami Margron (Oprah). Voshell shines in her role as Marina, with strength in both her delivery and facial expressions that match Santoni and regularly one up him, which is amusing and delightful to watch. Shout out to whoever decided to have Alberto's cell phone alarm ring daily with a reminder to "call Mom". It made me laugh every time and was one of the many humanizing moments in this grand adventure.

This film is a wonderful journey that shows the adventurous spirit of one man, the celebration of community, and the tour de force that is NY in all its glorious fullness.

Great acting and an adventure with charming and vibrant characters, anyone with love or nostalgia for the city will enjoy. The heartfelt letter to NYC jumps off the screen and will reinvigorate even the most jaded and cynical viewers.

The diverse acting, the music, the dialogues, the cinematography, the "endless" actors and extras and NYC as the backdrop are just some of the astonishing wonders of this film. An Indie film that doesn't seem Indie, it takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and adventures. A great representation of real New York with all the pretty and the ugly.

Adventure vs Home. A tale of a nomad who finds himself trapped in NYC unable to travel to his next adventure. This story was exciting and unpredictable. Watching lead actors, Santoni as Alberto and Voshell as Marina, wrestle with the question of living their previous lifestyle of travel or finally feeling like the found a place to be proved to be an emotional, funny, intense, and exciting journey brought to life. Does NYC and Marina's charm make Alberto settle down or does the call for adventure and spontaneity lure him away? You have to watch to find out! Highly recommend!!!

New York is full of adventures and full of heart, and this film gives you both. It is not only an enjoyable watch; it is a love letter to New York beautifully written. Congratulations to director/writer Chris Shimojima for this terrific film and big congrats to the two brilliant leads, Alejandro Santoni and Julie Voshell.

Santoni, as Alberto, and Voshell, as Marina, share excellent chemistry; and both win the audience over with great performance. Santoni's work is funny and rich, which effortlessly keeps you with him over the 1.5-hour runtime; and Voshell, whose role is quite challenging to cast, did a great job not only in bringing charm to her role----you can see stories in her eyes and feel deeply connected in almost every moment. This film will for sure make you laugh; but besides all the moments, intense or ridiculous, good or bad, you will remember more after watching it: different cultures, colorful characters, interesting personalities, and the most touching element----human connections.