August 25, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 19 ‘City Island’ chronicles family with past secrets by Dennis Seuling “City Island” (Anchor Bay), set in the small community in Long Island Sound, is about a family whose peaceful coexistence is threatened by surprising revelations of past secrets and present lies. Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a lifelong resident of the small, tradition-steeped, Bronx enclave of City Island. Vince works as a corrections officer, but longs to become an actor and is ashamed to air his aspirations to his family. Vince would rather let his volatile wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), believe his weekly poker games are a front for an extramarital affair than admit he is secretly taking acting classes in Manhattan. Vince isn’t the only one with a secret. His teenage son, Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller), has a fetish for obese women and his daughter, Vivian (Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Garcia’s real-life daughter), has been expelled from college and is working as a stripper. Asked in class to reveal his biggest secret, Vince inadvertently sets off a chaotic chain of events that turns his low-key life into turmoil when he brings his longlost ex-con son Tony (Steven Strait) home to meet the family. To complete the portrait of nearly universal deception, Vince’s acting partner (Emily Mortimer) and drama coach (Alan Arkin) also harbor secrets. Raymond De Felitta wrote, produced, and directed “City Island.” The cast is perfect, and the script is a gem. The film features sharp, witty dialogue, and there are enough twists to avoid predictability. I was surprised at Garcia’s flair for comedy, since most of his screen roles have been in serious drama. Margulies is also a standout, with her harridan Joyce a departure from her more ladylike roles. The Blu-ray disc contains audio commentary from Garcia and De Felitta, deleted scenes, and the featurette “Dinner with the Rizzos.” The film is also available on DVD. “The Square” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is an excellent crime thriller from first-time director Nash Edgerton. Small-town contractor Ray (David Roberts) knows his way around taking and giving kickbacks to assure that a project comes in on time and on budget. He is having an affair with the much younger Carla (Claire van der Boom), who is eager to leave this tiny coastal town and free herself from abusive boyfriend Billy (Anthony Hayes). In classic film noir tradition, Claire pushes Ray into planning a robbery of Billy’s illegally acquired cash with the line, “This is Andy Garcia (bottom row, center) and cast in ‘City Island.’ our chance. We have to take it.” The plan goes terribly wrong when Ray hires a professional arsonist who botches the job. Suspicions are aroused, insinuations made, and the police get involved. For a time, it looks as if Ray and Claire will escape discovery, until a blackmail note arrives. “The Square” has the look and feel of one of those B movies of the late 1940s with tough guys, women using them in nefarious plots, and unforeseen outcomes. Director Edgerton sets up an unusual structure, with a lot of character development shown in flashback during the film’s second act. (continued on Crossword page) ��������������������������������������������� �������������������� ����������������������� ������������� ������������������������� C • O • R •T• I • N • A R I S T O R A N T E “A HIDDEN GEM” Fine Dining For Lunch & Dinner ����������� ����������������� Lunch Starts at $7.00 • Monday-Friday 11:30AM–2:30PM Dinner Starts at $12.00 • Monday-Thursday 5:00PM–9:30PM Friday & Saturday 5:00PM–10:00PM Wednesdays: Ray La Rovere - Piano, Emil Rizzo - Mandolin Saturdays: Mike Constantino, Piano No Dine & Dance - Live Entertainment �������������� ����������������������������� Call for Reservations - 973-942-1750 118 Berkshire Ave., Paterson, NJ (Totowa Section) • www.cortinarestaurant.com Cover Charge Join us for �������������� ��������� ���������� ������������������������ ���������� HAPPY HOUR �������������������� ���������������� ��������� ������������ Open Tues-Thurs 11:30-10 Fri 11:30-11 Sat 12-11,ester/janine Sun 12-10 8-25-10 Mondays Closed �������������������������������� ���� �������� �������� ������ ������� �������������� ���� ���������� ������ ������������������ ������ ������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������� ���������������������� CortinaRestaurant3x3(8-25-10) 3 x���������������� 3” ��������������������� Authentic Cuisine from Spain Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails �� ����������������� ��������� ����������������������� �������������� ������ ������������������������ ������������ ������ ������������������������ ����������� ������ ������������� ���������������������������������� ������ ������������������ ������������������������������ ����������������������������������� ������������ ��������������������������������������