Night Falls on Manhattan

Starring: Andy Garcia, Richard Dreyfuss, Lena Olin, Ian Holm, James Gandolfini, Colm Feore, Ron Leibman, Paul Guilfoyle, Vincent Pastore, Frank Vincent, Bobby Cannavale
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Thriller
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A young District Attorney (Andy Garcia) begins investigating a deadly police shooting that may threaten to uncover a conspiracy involving his father (Ian Holm), a longtime NYC cop.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed Sidney Lumet's Night Falls on Manhattan. It was a stealthily good movie in many ways. I certainly felt entertained watching it, but it does a number of things well that feel subtle and it's only upon further reflection that you see how effective of a movie it is. There's a lot of things to like about this movie.

The story itself is winding and it pulls you into it. We learn about this horrendous shooting of police offers, killing several and badly wounding others. What seems at first like a straightforward story- the bad guy shot the good guys- becomes increasingly complex as more players enter the fray. You have the NYPD, who serve and protect, but there are some hints of potential corruption in their ranks. You have the District Attorney's office and their determination for justice at all costs. You have lawyers involved on both sides, who see the opportunity this event affords them. There's some commentary on the media's involvement and undoubtedly a lot of political maneuvering takes place. It all adds up to this surprisingly complex story that never feels overwhelming. Lumet is able to balance all of these pieces so expertly that the movie feels fairly straightforward and easy to follow. It's only later, when you think about the movie, when you realize what an impressive job Lumet did weaving all these different elements together into this easily digestible story. I found it interesting that he did it so seemingly effortlessly that it's easy to not notice how challenging it must have been.

While Lumet's direction is top notch, he needed a strong cast to bring this movie to life. He certainly has that here. Andy Garcia is excellent in the lead role. He's really effective Sean Casey. Garcia manages to be ambitious for his career while also building a sense that he's a good man. Whether that's how he takes care of his father or his relentless focus on justice, we become firmly entrenched in this character's corner. Garcia builds a connection with the audience and has you rooting for his character.

I love Richard Dreyfuss and I think he makes any movie immediately better. That's the case here. His lawyer character is a small part but he makes a bigger impact on the film than you'd expect. A few of my favorite scenes involve Dreyfuss and Garcia just talking to each other. Seeing these two together was fantastic. Lena Olin was decent in her role, if a bit unremarkable. The movie desperately needed better women characters. I've always loved Ian Holm and he does fantastic work here. He had this amazing ability to connect with the audience. No matter what he does on screen, you were interested in it. Holm has a small role but is fantastic. James Gandolfini was decent. He has some solid moments, but he's not on the same level as some of the other cast members. Colm Feore has a few nice scenes. It was fun seeing an earlier career performance from Bobby Cannavale. The cast as a whole works exceptionally well together.

At 1 hour, 53 minutes, Night Falls on Manhattan isn't a short movie, but it never feels overly long. Lumet keeps the story moving at a solid clip and he's able to include a great deal in it. The film felt like the right length. My attention was held throughout and it gives the characters a chance to breathe. We also get time to dive into the details of police corruption, the justice system, NYC politics, and more. This movie might not have that extra something that the great films have, but it's an incredibly engaging, entertaining film. I loved diving into this world and these characters. I don't think this film gets enough credit.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Desperate Measures