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"Dizzy
'Heights'"
by Scott Mantz
"Liberty Heights"
Adrien Brody, Ben Foster
Directed by Barry Levinson
They say "you
can never go home again". However, if there's one Hollywood director
who should be accused for trying, it's got to be Barry Levinson.
Commercially, he's had his share of hits ('Rain Man", "Good Morning
Vietnam") and misses ("Jimmy Hollywood", "Sphere"), but it's his
"slice of life" movies that shine above the rest. His "Baltimore
Series" of films, including "Diner", "Tin Men", and "Avalon", are
set in a more innocent time and successfully blend engaging, true-to-life
characters with moving, mature drama. With "Liberty Heights", Levinson
goes home once again and shows how the rigid walls that once divided
society were starting to break down. The result is an honest, humorous,
and heartfelt film.
In the Jewish
Baltimore neighborhood of Liberty Heights in 1953, Nate Kurtzman
(Joe Montagne) is struggling to keep his burlesque business afloat.
In an effort to raise some much-needed cash, he and his partners
jury-rig a fake raffle contest that nobody could possibly win. Unfortunately,
somebody does, and now he has to come up with $100,000.00. Meanwhile,
his two sons are having problems of their own. Van (Adrien Brody)
falls for the first black girl in his class, and Ben (Ben Foster)
falls for his best friend's barbie-doll girlfriend. The situation
becomes intense as the strict Jewish family tries to cope with a
diverse outside world interfering with their traditional values.
The Kurtzmans
are desperately trying to stick to their ethnic heritage, but it's
only a matter of time before outside influences make their way in.
Racism and bigotry are still a major issue today, but at least the
power of the information age allows cultures and nationalities to
cross over and influence one another. Back in the early 50's, boundaries
were so tight that people rarely ventured beyond their own neighborhoods
to see "the other people". When they did, they were chastised for
being different.
Levinson keeps
the film real by showing the story from both sides, and he keeps
the characters loyal to their ethnic background without falling
into demeaning stereotypes. The attraction between Van and Sylvia
is sweet and captures the innocence of teen love. It isn't enough
that their inter-racial romance will turn a few heads, but just
wait until their narrow-minded parents find out. Sylvia has to sneak
Van into her room, and her father is furious when he comes home
early to find a Jew in the house of a black family. Later, when
the rebellious Van sneaks away with Sylvia to attend a James Brown
concert, the symbolism is obvious without being insulting. The liberation
of the teens dancing and swaying to that crazy rock'n'roll is just
a foreshadowing of things to come. Change is in the air, and these
restless teens are ready to embrace it.
On the other
hand, Ben is doing some soul searching of his own. He can't stop
thinking about his best friend's girlfriend. He can't believe his
ears when he's given the OK to go for it. When he realizes that
her beauty is a cover for a very complex and emotionally damaged
woman, he is heartbroken.
The performances
across the board are sensitive and touching. Joe Montagne wants
the best for his family, even if it means resorting to crooked methods
to provide for them. When his plan falls apart, he accepts the consequences
with restrained dignity. He's made his bed, and now he has to sleep
in it. Adrien Brody is the backbone of the movie. He is filled with
energetic confidence as he strives to explore the outside world.
Even in the face of dire circumstances, he doesn't lose his cool.
Ben Foster plays the smitten teen so deeply in love he can't see
the forest through the trees.
Times have definitely
changed, but racism obviously still looms large in our society.
Looking at "Liberty Heights", one can't believe how blatant it was
in American culture during the 50's. Hopefully, the future will
find tolerance and acceptance so commonplace that people will look
back on the 90's and say the same thing.
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