Falling Awake (2009)

25% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(78 ratings)

A struggling Bronx musician falls for a pretty girl from Brooklyn while working to launch his career and exceed his father's expectations. Jay (Andrew Cisneros) is a gifted performer from a tough Bronx neighborhood. He's performing on the streets when he meets Alessandra (Jenna Dewan), a Brooklyn… More A struggling Bronx musician falls for a pretty girl from Brooklyn while working to launch his career and exceed his father's expectations. Jay (Andrew Cisneros) is a gifted performer from a tough Bronx neighborhood. He's performing on the streets when he meets Alessandra (Jenna Dewan), a Brooklyn muse who encourages him to pursue his dreams at all costs. But in the eyes of Jay's angry, resentful father, the young musician will never get out from under the shadow of his older brother, a Marine who has recently returned home from active duty. Trapped in a vicious self-destructive cycle of violence and anger, Jay must summon the courage to stand up to his enemies, and take those first uncertain steps toward the life he's always wanted. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Agustin
Written By: Agustin, Michael Baez, Doug Klozzner
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 5, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2010
Studio: IFC

Critic Reviews

Mike Hale, New York Times
Puts good intentions and appealing performances into the balance against cliches of dead-end neighborhoods and rebellious (but sensitive) youth.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Cisneros is an appealing actor, but he and Falling Awake get buried under a welter of clichés.
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice
One-named Cuban-born director Agustin's unrewarding middlebrow drama flaunts its street cred dubiously.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an affable (yet thoroughly uneven) piece of work...
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
Falling Awake isn't completely soporific, but it hardly inspires or enlightens.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
I'm all for telling generic stories about young artists rising above their lot in life, but for goodness sake, at least shoot it right.
S. James Snyder, Time Out New York
Playing smarter and smoother than the plot, Cisneros uncorks an antimacho performance that deviates from type.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Casts a collection of illustrious no-names in a fatuous gangland epic of multicultural tensions between blacks and Puerto Ricans.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Cast

            Andrew Cisneros as Jay

            Jenna Dewan as Alessandra

            Luis Jimenez as Pipo

            Gerald Bunsen as Joe

            Will Ramirez as Big Will

            Nestor Serrano as Lazaro

            Julie Carmen as Angela

            Natalie Cortez as Anabela

            Tiffany Romano as Nelly

            Flaco Navaja as Mafi

            Michael Rivera as Lucho

            Ramón Fernández as Papo

            Kareem Savinon as Papo's Thug

            Casper Martinez as DJ

            Juan Pablo González as Daryl

            Chris "Kharma Kazi" Rolle as Cash Biz

            Alessandra Ramos as Meri

            J.D. Williams as D-Money

            Nicholas Gonzalez as Eddie

            Mateo Gomez as Street Preacher

            Angela Lin as Chinese Restaurant Girl

            Jackson Ning as Chinese Restaurant Cook

            Ze Luis as Nightclub Musician

            Ariel de la Portilla as Nightclub Musician

            Kenny Grohowski as Nightclub Musician

            Richard Pardon as Nightclub Musician

            Dende Marivaldo as Nightclub Musician

            Theo Kogan as Bartender

            Eunice Anderson as Grandma

            Robert Gerard Larkin as Police Officer 1

            David Douglas as Police Officer 2

            Marta Vidal as Mafi's Mom
See full cast

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