Five Corners (1987)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(1,230 ratings)

Quirky comedy, intense drama, and warm nostalgia are all combined in this eccentric look at one night in 1964 amongst the residents of the Five Corners neighborhood of the Bronx. The bulk of the film concerns Linda (Jodie Foster), a young woman who finds herself stalked by a disturbed rapist fresh… More Quirky comedy, intense drama, and warm nostalgia are all combined in this eccentric look at one night in 1964 amongst the residents of the Five Corners neighborhood of the Bronx. The bulk of the film concerns Linda (Jodie Foster), a young woman who finds herself stalked by a disturbed rapist fresh out of prison. Needing protection, she turns to her formerly tough ex-boyfriend, only to discover that a recent political awakening has transformed him into a pacifist. The tension of Linda's situation is leavened by the film's attention to its bizarre subplots, which include a stolen penguin, partying teenagers who encounter trouble with an elevator, and a pair of detectives investigating a series of mysterious bow-and-arrow attacks. The script by John Patrick Shanley, who won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Moonstruck, manages to (for the most part) bring these seemingly unrelated stories together into a fairly logical conclusion. Even though numerous critics felt that Five Corners' mixture of widely disparate tones was not completely successful, the end result is a surprisingly charming and unique tribute to a time and a place. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Tony Bill
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Sep 18, 2007
Studio: Cannon Home Video

Critic Reviews

James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Reminds you that you can still find small treasures in all the piles of low-budget cinematic junk that are out there.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Screenplay writer John Patrick Shanley fails to shed any new light on the thorny problem of senseless urban violence.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Burger S

I don't know who said that this was a comedy. Hands down, the most disturbing John Turturro role I've ever seen. I dare you to compare. Watch it for free online.
Lesley N

A strange film. I kind of liked it. Good acting, especially in an early role by John Turturro. Excellent acting by the penguins too. Quirky, unconnected stories that connect up in the end. Kind of.
Anthony V

A great feel of New York in this underrated comedy/drama.

Cast

            Jodie Foster as Linda

            Tim Robbins as Harry Fitzgerald

            Todd Graff as James

            John Turturro as Heinz Sabantino

            Elizabeth Berridge as Melanie

            Rose Gregorio as Mrs. Sabantino

            Gregory Rozakis as Mazola

            John Seitz as Sullivan

            Kathleen Chalfant as Mrs. Fitzgerald

            Ray Aranha as Arthur

            Bill Cobbs as Man in Coffee Shop

            Cathryn de Prume as Brita

            Pepe Douglas as Policeman

            Pierre Epstein as George

            Dann Florek as Policeman

            Frances Foster as Waitress

            Rodney Harvey as Castro

            Michael R. Howard as Murray

            Daniel Jenkins as Willie

            Eriq La Salle as Samuel Kemp

            Kit Le Fever as Esther

            Michael Mantell
            
            Jack McGee as Desk Sergeant

            Mike Nussbaum
            
            Anthony Powers as Cop

            Keith Reddin as Neighborhood Person

            Campbell Scott as Policeman

            Marya Small as Woman in Deli

            Mike Starr as Bartender

            David Brisbin as Plainclothes Man

            Carl Caportoto as Sal

            Jerome Collamore as Old Man in Bar

            Alex Kramarevsky as Policeman

            Thomas Kudlek as Policeman

            Robert Lempert as Neighborhood Person

            Mike Lisenco as Policeman

            Regis Mullavey as Policeman

            Frank Patton as Policeman

            Joel Segal as Policeman

            Victor Slezak as Policeman

            Jose Soto Jr. as Boy in Pet Store

            Richard Thomson as Cop

            Jerry Hewitt as Mr. Glascow

            Richard Thomsen as Policeman

            James Ryan as Policeman
See full cast