IMDb RATING
6.4/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress.Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress.Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress.
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Summary
Reviewers say 'The Only Living Boy in New York' delves into love, betrayal, and self-discovery in New York City. Jeff Bridges, Pierce Brosnan, and Kate Beckinsale deliver compelling performances. The cinematography and city portrayal are lauded. However, some find the plot and character development weak, with unconvincing relationships. Dialogue and pacing receive mixed reviews. It’s a character-driven drama with a strong cast, though its slow pace and complex narrative may not appeal to all.
Featured reviews
I really loved watching this movie that is a combination of superb direction, nice storyline, and excellent piece of acting by all the actors. A must watch drama with a certain element of truth in it.
GREAT movie. Admittedly it starts just a little slow but is still very interesting to watch. It then picks up and only gets more and more interesting.
It's very poetic and even days after you've watched, it stays with you.
It is not for the closed minded or for people who only like fast moving action or typical romance movies.
It has different outcomes than you'd expect and every bit along the way is very genuine and very well acted by everyone in it!
It is very real life and warm while also heart-breaking and lovely.
It is full of depth in each and every single character!
I watch this over a weel ago and it just keeps popping into my thoughts.
Highly recommend it!
I wish there would be more of those movies. Right from the get go you feel a certain tone a certain mood that is different from your patterned "Hollywood" flick. This movie does what good movies do it focuses on story and characters and both are tremendous. I have never seen Callum Turner in anything but he does a pretty good job as our main character torn between doing the right thing and doing what he feels. Kate Beckinsale with her very monotone and lifeless line deliveries is still cast well because she is mainly there to be the attractive and seductive one and she is very good at that. Brosnan who I like to see but never surpasses a certain level has one of his best performances of his career. But they are all outshined by Jeff Bridges which is no knock on them. Bridges in one of those actors that like a good wine get's better and better which each year he ages.
The story is the second big star. Starting of very slow but building up until all the dots are connected and all the themes that were established come full circle. So if you are looking for a movie that is outside of the box that feels like something that you have not seen a hundred times give that one a try.
This is a unique little movie and has very limited appeal...of which I am part of the limit...hence the 8 out of 10. Its content is similar to both The Squid and the Whale (although not as richly realized) as well as The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (but less self-conscious). Without relying on period pop music, it manages to capture a very specific moment in New York City...back when living in the lower east side was considered radical and right before the Internet and mobile and 9/11 changed everything. At least that is the way it felt. There is more contemporary technology evident...but it felt added on. The story follows a handful of characters, none of whom are particularly sympathetic and all of whom occupy rarefied terrain, either via their education, career, creativity, or family name. Callum Turner-in the lead- had the most clearly drawn role and made the character endearing and not arrogant. He is interesting physically, too...at times looking like Keith Gordon, at others like Richard Gere. Other pluses: its running time is under 90 minutes and it uses some exceptional New York City locations (such as the Brooklyn Museum and the Oyster Bar). Finally, this is really a movie about fathers and sons (and mentors)-a very under-mined topic in film.
The not so good news? The aforementioned time stamp issues...when does this film take place? There are clues but they do not add up under scrutiny. Or is it supposed to take place within the "idea" of a different era? I don't know but they should have gone full late 80s/early 90s period piece. More importantly, the characters are too broadly drawn...and the actors work with what they have. Brosnan, Nixon, Bridges, Clemons, and Beckinsale all do their best with the material they have, rarely share scenes together, and all seem to be unclear as to whether they are in a comedy or a drama. Meanwhile, it occupies some space in between comedy and drama... It's a small movie that has some very big cinematic moments, largely due to the exquisite cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh: a Londoner who clearly loves New York City.
The not so good news? The aforementioned time stamp issues...when does this film take place? There are clues but they do not add up under scrutiny. Or is it supposed to take place within the "idea" of a different era? I don't know but they should have gone full late 80s/early 90s period piece. More importantly, the characters are too broadly drawn...and the actors work with what they have. Brosnan, Nixon, Bridges, Clemons, and Beckinsale all do their best with the material they have, rarely share scenes together, and all seem to be unclear as to whether they are in a comedy or a drama. Meanwhile, it occupies some space in between comedy and drama... It's a small movie that has some very big cinematic moments, largely due to the exquisite cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh: a Londoner who clearly loves New York City.
As a devoted Simon & Garfunkel fan, 'The Only Living Boy In New York' immediately piqued my interest, and it doesn't disappoint in its exploration of themes reminiscent of 'The Graduate.' Much like the classic film, it skillfully navigates the complex terrain of love, generational conflict, and infidelity. While there may not be as many Simon & Garfunkel songs in the soundtrack, the inclusion of their cover of Jackson C. Frank's 'Blues Run The Game' set the scene for a pleasant 90 minutes of viewing.
Callum Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, and Jeff Bridges deliver outstanding performances in a movie with a strong script and well-developed characters.
The relationship between the young man Thomas, and his father's mistress, Johanna, is intriguing and adds a layer of complexity to the story.
This film can be aptly described as a black comedy, where humor is subtle and not in-your-face. It doesn't rely on laugh-out-loud lines but rather on its warmhearted and amusing portrayal of its characters and their predicaments. It captures the essence of New York City's charm and chaos, much like the iconic duo's music did in their time.
'The Only Living Boy In New York' is a heartfelt exploration of love, betrayal, and self-discovery set against the stunning backdrop of New York City. With subtle humor, compelling performances, and an intriguing storyline, this character-driven film well worth viewing for those who appreciate a well told humous tale.
Callum Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, and Jeff Bridges deliver outstanding performances in a movie with a strong script and well-developed characters.
The relationship between the young man Thomas, and his father's mistress, Johanna, is intriguing and adds a layer of complexity to the story.
This film can be aptly described as a black comedy, where humor is subtle and not in-your-face. It doesn't rely on laugh-out-loud lines but rather on its warmhearted and amusing portrayal of its characters and their predicaments. It captures the essence of New York City's charm and chaos, much like the iconic duo's music did in their time.
'The Only Living Boy In New York' is a heartfelt exploration of love, betrayal, and self-discovery set against the stunning backdrop of New York City. With subtle humor, compelling performances, and an intriguing storyline, this character-driven film well worth viewing for those who appreciate a well told humous tale.
Did you know
- TriviaThe filmmakers gave each actor a book that corresponded to the character they were playing. Kiersey Clemons received Patti Smith's Just Kids, Callum Turner got David Foster Wallace's Essay's on Tennis, Pierce Brosnan's was Stories from the New Yorker, The New Atlas of New York for Jeff Bridges, and finally Kate Beckinsale would be given a copy of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
- GoofsThe letter sent to Thomas by the Penguin Group at the end of the film has a typo in it: where it reads 'I with you every success with your book...' should actually be 'I wish you every success with your book'? Didn't expect that from the 'Penguin Group'.
- Quotes
Judith Webb: You know, the farthest distance in the world, is between how it is and how you thought it was gonna be.
- SoundtracksLa Paloma Azul (Live)
Written by Dave Brubeck
Performed by Dave Brubeck Quartet
Courtesy of Derry Music Company
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
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- Also known as
- The Only Living Boy in New York
- Filming locations
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Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $624,332
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $54,458
- Aug 13, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $2,550,321
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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