This is a movie is about the Rizzo family who live on City Island which is an island connected to the Bronx, New York via a bridge. They live in a small community in which you are either a "Clam Digger" or "Mussel Sucker," those residents who were born on the island and those whose families going back three and four generations (true). The Rizzos are Clam Diggers and they all have a secret and think no in their family knows, well then again they don't until prison guard Vince Rizzo's (Andy Garcia) son, Tony (Steven Straigh) from a previous relationship is released from prison to his custody.Vince, his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies), his youngest son Vinnie (Ezra Miller), and oldest son, Tony all eventually know everyone's secret, but how it unfolds is where the entertainment is - who's gonna find out, what, when? Good after work film, funny, entertaining and you won't have nightmares.

The plot and problem to be overcome is set very clear from the start of the film. The communication problem faced by everybody today and which is responsible for so much pain is a very actual issue in modern times, where we do not listen and our minds are clouded by our own professional struggles and occupations and that is why we need a film to express this issue and provide some hope and this film does not disappoint at reaching this intended goal.Character development is truly prominent and accompanied by already well defined and somewhat comical but tasteful characters. At early stages it seems impossible that any meaningful flow of emotion can occur between the family members and yet it changes in a very believable way. This provides so much hope to people of today struggling to communicate. As a whole the story is constructed very well, with little to say about loose ends, although Vince Jr. remains excluded and the ultimate adhesion of the family could have extended to him so as to indicate to his progression. A last minor critique is maybe the slight discomfort the confrontations may give some viewers, sensitive to verbal insult and argumentation, although the expression of their dysfunction empathy, understanding and confidence was important so as to state the issue, also it is solved by the end of the film, thus it may be excused.The performance of Emily Mortimer as Molly was brilliant, what a lovable character played by a lovable actress. Molly is truly the advocate of expression here and supports the principle and motive of the story as if she could be a poem on her own at the side of the prose(the story).I can truly advise this film to anyone, just sit tight and don't let the arguments put you off, as the character progression justifies any early discomforts and the existence of a true moral and actual lesson makes it all worth while, it gives hope in a time where family relationships are under immense danger from modern day threats.Hats off to Raymond De Felitta and all involved for this well accomplished story, screenplay and performance.

I didn't quite know what to expect when I sat down to watch this, but suffice to say I enjoyed it. I knew pretty early into it that things were going to be conflicting and confusing. And while it wasn't that big a deal, it still nagged at the back of my head that 'these people need help.' Luckily the movie answered my question before I could ask it with Tony. Tony was not my favorite character but he was able to confront the family about their issues in a way that was both funny and meaningful. The son and his interactions with his neighbor and classmate were extremely off-putting. I loved the daughter a lot, and her performance was wonderful. The mother was pretty insane and the love affair between her and her (unbeknownst) step-son was more disgusting than important. The father was an incredible actor, and I hope he goes on to bigger roles. I'd recommend this to you if you'd like to see an excellent dysfunctional family film.

Andy Garcia with a heart? True - here he's an average, flawed but decent and at times vulnerable family man, who has more success communicating with his charges at the correctional facility where he works as a guard than he does with his own family.In a low-key and heart-warming movie, the individual characters radiate individuality - aside of Garcia, (Vince Rizzo) there's his blunt and free-spirited (OK, bossy!) wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), college student daughter, who's dropped out to do a spot of stripping and their teenage son, who has a sexual fetish for BBW's...(and he gets to spy on one and meet her!)The family know nothing of each of their individual 'pursuits' - add to the mix Vince's poker sessions with the boys that are actually acting classes, run by that wonderful old sage, Alan Arkin, typically and sardonically treating us to a gentle belittling of his students. British Emily Mortimer sticks to her native accent as Vince's friend, who he gets to slowly confide in. Many will find Garcia's fumbled and over- acted, or under-acted? amateur dramatics very funny, as he hopelessly impersonates every gangster stereotype possible, with Brando's 'method' acting ripe for a swipe.Rizzo also manages to get some cheap, unofficial labour so he can build a bespoke bathroom - who this is, the effect he has on them all and who he turns out to be is a whole extra story, interwoven with the rest. Affectionately filmed in the Bronx, this has a community feel about it and the film's title refers to that place in one's mind and imagination in which to take a break - to think and reflect.What's best about it all is that it's comfortable with itself. It doesn't try too hard - it knows its place and with its affectionate heart, interesting characters, most will find City Island nicely satisfying.