Judy Berlin (1999)

80% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(554 ratings)

Judy Berlin allows the audience to take a glimpse of a day at once strange and ordinary with the residents of Babylon, Long Island. Judy (Edie Falco) is an aspiring actress who is quitting her job as a "pilgrim" in a local historical museum's display to take her chances in Los Angeles. Her mother is… More Judy Berlin allows the audience to take a glimpse of a day at once strange and ordinary with the residents of Babylon, Long Island. Judy (Edie Falco) is an aspiring actress who is quitting her job as a "pilgrim" in a local historical museum's display to take her chances in Los Angeles. Her mother is a gifted but bitter schoolteacher (Barbara Barrie) who has long loved principal Arthur Gold (Bob Dishy) from afar. However, Arthur has a wife, Alice (Madeline Kahn), who's more than a bit eccentric and has driven him to distraction. Arthur and Alice have a son, David (Aaron Harnick), who like Judy has showbiz aspirations (he wants to be a filmmaker), though unlike Judy he has no idea of what to do about it; when Judy and David meet, could romance be lurking around the corner? First-time director Eric Mendelsohn has equipped this offbeat comic drama an outstanding cast, which also includes Julie Kavner, Anne Meara, and Novella Nelson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Eric Mendelsohn
Written By: Eric Mendelsohn
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 6, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Sep 11, 2001

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A humorous, melancholy look at a suburban community in Long Island whose characters include lonely housewives, frustrated teachers, and aspiring actresses, with wonderful performances by Edie Falco, Barbara Barrie and Madeline Kahn in her last role.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Anything that a first-time filmmaker can do to annoy, Mendelsohn does it.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Black-and-white movie of crisp contrast and dreamlike content.
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com
Judy Berlin isn't just a slice-of-life movie; it's the quintessential slice-of-life movie--a movie whose primary purpose is to capture a moment in time and contectualize it.