As brilliantly written and directed by Barry Levinson, this is easily the best of his "Baltimore" films("Diner," "Avalon," "Tin Men,")and is one of the best films of THIS year as well. Set in 1950's Baltimore, this story, told in brilliant details, tells what happens when people try to cross the invisible lines drawn up in a city...religious lines, economic lines, racial lines, and gender lines. Acted to perfection by an ensemble cast headed by Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth, and Adrien Brody, it's impossible to single out any ONE of the performers.If anything, the art and musical directors are just as important as the actors here in helping to create a specific time and place. When we were leaving the theater(and in a discussion over coffee!) my friend Pete and I were trying to find a reason why we shouldn't give this film five stars. We couldn't!

Barry Levinson returns to Baltimore to take us inside a Jewish family in the fifties. Joe Montegna turns in a less than impressive performance as the father, Bebe Neuwirth is underused as the mother and Adrien Brody is decent as the oldest son. Along with them are a collection of newcomers who each turn in fair performances but there are no real standouts. The story is all over the road, touching on several serious subjects like racism, segregation, crime and the confusion of adolescence, but it never really seems to find a focus. Its a fair movie but I never connected with any of the characters nor did I find myself caring about them.