The Yards - Director's Cut (2000)

A burning hot flame potentially turns into bitter cold ice

THE YARDS (2000) will interest fans of Joaquin Phoenix and Charlize
Theron's physical charisma, as to James Caan's world class acting and
credibility in bringing to life a theme that is rarely touched upon
in the theaters. On the other hand, for some, Walhberg's acting is
perhaps an acquired taste, much like watching paint dry.

One strength is the lesson it tells, of the consequences of one's
actions, or that of a small group of people holding key positions, on
everyone in society, their family, friends close and distant, when
there is misbehavior.

According to this movie, there are cases when big-ticket sales
players (not just small time salesmen) get an edge, through unethical
means, through payoffs, not so legal actions, and human coercion
against competitors in bidding for contracts in the tens of USD
millions.

It realistically tells of methods that are perfectly legitimate in
gaining the favor, influence and friendship of people by knowing what
their soft spots are, and indulging those through gifts. The trick,
of course, is to know when a gift stops being one, and turns into a
payoff.

This DVD will also appeal to those enjoying a wide-screen release,
with a very high quality cinematography, sharp images, and
irreproachable technique. The soundtrack is made up of tastefully
selected numbers, that don't distract from the story.

What will stick with the public, are the highs and lows, that the
protagonists in this picture go through.

The less credible part, is the suggestion that the character played
by Walhberg, presented as somewhat of a broken down engine of sorts
in society, becomes holier than the Pope after 90 mins, turning
against everyone whom he knew and trusted, merely from the latter's
decision to cut their losses from the repeated, ever more serious
comedy of errors made by Walhberg's character.

The strong point of this movie, is its tragic aspects, and by not
having a predictable ending, incorporating many realistic elements,
such as sickness, health, death, fear, greed, broken relationships,
loathing, solidarity, coercion, hate, love, confusion, joy. Most will
identify how some people are able to control their destinies to a
lesser or stronger degree, depending on their skill and experience,
and luck.

A lasting demonstration, is how quickly a burning hot flame,
potentially turns into bitter cold ice, in terms of one's humanity,
personal relationships, one's professional outlook, and how everyone
in society is dependent and influenced by other people comprising it.
THE YARDS also underlines how one tragedy is always accompanied by
another.

Some viewers may have preferred a less abrupt ending, which almost is
presented as an afterthought, after the story had built to a climax. May 27, 2007

Uninspired crime drama

After watching the movie and reading the reviews, I felt compelled to say something. The plot synopsis gives an adequate idea of what the movie is about, but not how it is told-which is dull. May 17, 2006

Interesting plot!

Three dramatic vertices converge in this smart script: The painful stunt's death and the sad memories left behind in a famous director characterized precisely by his dangerous EFX; a murder who has been hired to kill him; and the last act of love redemption when the things are out of control and you have no time to put the things in its real context.
Interesting thriller that shines by the presence of James Caan as the fallen in disgrace director and Mathew Broderick as the mercenary. Some problems with the poor photography diminish the sum of the final result.
June 13, 2005

GRITTY NOIR THAT MOODILY TRIPS ON ITS HACKNEYED LINE

Ten minutes into the film I was drawn into the noirish pace and presentation, and a theme of how inconvenient life is when someone who's tainted as an ex-convict wants to straighten himself out. The feeling of paranoia is well achieved, partly because of the brooding score and very well-toned cinematography.

But what kills the movie is its derivative story -- the strinking semblance to Godfather, City Hall, Heat, James Caan's own The Thief, and about a hundred other crime capers is hard to overlook. To make matters worse, the plot is also sloppily constructed such that it can't resolve itself without losing its grip on the tension that it creates.

James Caan is sharp as he brings his snakey charm into the role, come to think of it, all actors do very well to maintain the general grit, including a power-crazed Joaquin Phoenix and the good-hearted criminal Wahlberg.

But about halfway through the movie the denouement already peeped out, making the rest of the proceedings merely a formality. Probably a decent rental for anyone who likes crime procedurals with family businesses going over the top in tandem with public officials, but not exactly an astounding achievement in cinema. July 18, 2004

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Director James Gray has elicited some marvelous performances from a really eclectic cast: Oscar winners Ellen Burstyn and Faye Dunaway play domestic characters with the professional verve they always bring; Oscar nominees Charlize Theron, James Caan and Joaquin Phoenix are superb in their roles as Wahlberg's cousin, best friend and uncle-in-law; and then we have Mark Wahlberg, Steve Lawrence and Tony Musante rounding out the cast. This is Wahlberg's shining moment; he has none of the macho bravado usually associated with him, and his performance is complex, multi-faceted and courageous. Caan is also brilliant, and someday he'll get the Oscar he deserves. Phoenix also shows great emotional depth in his role as a borderline sociopath. Theron proves that she is not just a pretty face, but a capable and engaging actress. The film's slow pace is in line with the psychological nuances of the film. I'd never heard of it until I saw a trailer on another video. An outstanding film. Highly recommended. February 13, 2004

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