Liberty Heights

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Liberty Heights

R

1999

2h 7m

Comedy

Drama

Music

Romance

Crime

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

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Critics Consensus

A moving film with moments of humor, Liberty Heights succeeds in capturing the feel of the '50s with great performances and sensitive direction.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 6, 2018

By focusing on such a specific milieu, he keeps the genre alive with his great ear for small talk, an elegant eye and a warm, forgiving heart. This is nostalgia bottled and aged with care.

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/5

Offers a deeper immersion in that old '50s feeling than any other Hollywood film in recent memory.

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Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/4

Touching and frequently hilarious.

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Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

Jun 5, 2024

This coming-of-age drama manages to explore the racial politics of 1950s America, while maintaining a lightness that keeps it accessible and a welcome addition to the genre.

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Andy Greenwald

Spin

Dec 28, 2022

Liberty Heights is yet another entry in that most Vaseline-smeared of all film genres -- Jewish family learns life lessons in post-WWII America -- but one with a low-key charm.

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Armond White

New York Press

Jun 28, 2019

It's atrocious. Twisted sociology.

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steve d

@RT35616104 Jul 4, 2020

somewhat entertaining but the script is nothing special.

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nefasto r

@Nefasto Apr 10, 2018

It's a very likable Jewish/Coming of age story. Very likable because all the characters are smart and well written, because there is good 50s music all over the movie, because coming of age usually are. The problem, if anything, is that is too likable! I mean, when the dramatic parts come through the end, they are not very dramatic at all! It ss like they have been sprinkled over with a some "Disney" powder! They miss some mordant! Even the bad guys are good people! That is why for me is not a great movie, but still a very enjoyable one.

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Feb 22, 2015

This was a pretty good movie, but it needed something more to make it great. I liked it, but I did not love it. The best parts of this movie were the scenes with Ben and Sylvia; they really brought the film to life.

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Jul 14, 2014

Perhaps Levinson's last hurrah, 'Heights' is sweet, understated and even cheeky. Of course, aside from a great cast of charismatic youngsters, the film pulls off a fine balancing act of teen romance with statements about social and racial affairs of the time.

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Jul 12, 2014

always a good way to spend the night throwback

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Aug 27, 2013

I had no idea that there was a religion other than the Christian one until I saw this movie when I was around 10 or so. Never took anything into consideration until this movie broadened my eyes. Watching it again brings back cherished memories. Good stuff!!

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Van Kurtzman

Ben Foster

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Synopsis

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Baltimore Pictures, Spring Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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