Brighton Beach Memoirs
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Movie Reviews of Brighton Beach Memoirs
Movie Review: One of Neil Simon's best
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love Neil Simon....you MUST see this one. It's based on his childhood in Brooklyn. Hilarious!Movie Review: Oldie but Goodie
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a satisfied customer! I love this movie its good clean comedy for the whole family.Movie Review: Neil Simon's Trilogy Begins
Summary: 4 Stars
Brighton Beach Memoirs is the beginning of Neil Simon's Eugene Jerome trilogy based on his youth.
Eugene Jerome (Jonathan Silverman in his film debut) is fifteen. He is hitting the puberty and can't control thinking of it. His goal in life is to be the first Jewish pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
But his mother (Blythe Danner) has other ideas for his future. His mother runs the house with an iron fist and guilt. His father (Bob Dishy) is working two jobs just to make ends meet. His older bother Stanley, has just lost his job for talking back to his boss.
Also living with the Jerome's is Blanche's invalid sister (Judith Ivey) and her two daughters. The older one Eugene has more than a passing crush on.
The main theme of this film is too many people living in too little room with too little money. In the end all conflicts arise from this.
This is Neil Simon at his most personal. The only problem is bad casting in the lead. Jonathan Silverman never captures Eugene's spirit. He just seems to be saying the lines and doesn't seem to understand what he is saying. Matthew Broderick created the role in Los Angeles and then Broadway and won a Tony Award. Silverman just doesn't have the comic timing to pull this difficult role off.
On the other side, Blythe Danner shines as Eugene's mother Blanche. Without having to tell the audience her problems, she makes them clear with her delivery. Judith Ivey, in an early role, shows the frailty of Blanche's sister.
This is a very good film and is good background for the excellent second installment Biloxi Blues. Unfortunately, as of today, the final part, Broadway Bound has not been released on DVD.
DVD EXTRAS: None
Movie Review: Stagy but enjoyable
Summary: 4 Stars
"Brighton Beach Memoirs", the first of Neil Simon's three autobiographical plays (the other two being "Biloxi Blues" and "Broadway Bound"), sees Simon's alter-ego, Eugene Jerome (Jonathon Silverman) coming of age in 1930's Brooklyn as his family struggles to make ends meet, while worrying about what the imminent war will mean for their relatives in Poland.
Of the two film versions of Simon's autobiographical plays that I have seen, I think "Biloxi Blues" is the better play/film. In "Brighton Beach Memoirs", Jerome serves largely as an observer of the action that is going on around him, not a participant, and as a result, it makes it difficult to identify or sympathize with him. This is a problem that I didn't find in "Biloxi Blues", where Jerome plays a more active role in the story (I think this is largely due to Jerome's age in each of these plays). Also, "Brighton Beach Memoirs" has a certain staginess to it - not so much in the location (the action does move around a lot), but more in the way the actors behave and deliver their lines.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy "Brighton Beach Memoirs" very much. I have liked Neil Simon's work since I was five and this film didn't disappoint. It is a very funny film and the acting is excellent. Watch this, and see "Biloxi Blues". You won't be disappointed.
Movie Review: Works Well
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a tale of 2 jewish families living under 1 roof in 1937. Though there are many hardships and a family crisis or two, it is tempered with a gentle humor and the fact that you really feel that everyone loves each other. Perfect casting, this is a winner. If you liked Parenthood, this should be right up your alley.