Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)

80% of critics liked it
(60 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(8,171 ratings)

Tamara Jenkins wrote and directed this comedy-drama depicting the experience of growing up poor in the 90210 zip code, told from the point of view of Vivian Abramowitz (Natasha Lyonne), a teen who lives a nomadic existence in the outskirts of Beverly Hills with her single, divorced father, Murray… More Tamara Jenkins wrote and directed this comedy-drama depicting the experience of growing up poor in the 90210 zip code, told from the point of view of Vivian Abramowitz (Natasha Lyonne), a teen who lives a nomadic existence in the outskirts of Beverly Hills with her single, divorced father, Murray (Alan Arkin) and her two young brothers (David Krumholtz, Eli Marienthal). As Murray tries to keep the family in the Beverly Hills school district, the family moves into a one-bedroom apartment in a shabby complex. When sexually liberated Rita (Marisa Tomei), daughter of Murray's brother Mickey (Carl Reiner), checks out of a drug rehab and moves into the apartment, she becomes a "role model" for the young Vivian. Jenkins's semi-autobiographical screenplay was developed and refined during Screenwriters and Filmmakers Labs sessions at the Sundance Institute. Produced by Robert Redford and Michael Nozik, this film was shown in the Directors Fortnight section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Tamara Jenkins
Written By: Tamara Jenkins
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 14, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Sep 5, 2000
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Funny, well acted comedy from a new director whose career shuld be watched
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Though hypocritical in the way it sensationalizes sexuality, this serious and funny 1998 movie about a 15-year-old coming to terms with her body and her family in 1976 is, refreshingly, never coy or ironic.
Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail
There's an alchemy that can transform personal experience into a great film, but it was nowhere nearby when Tamara Jenkins wrote and directed this lacklustre first feature.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
What lifts this brash comedy above the vulgar herd is Tamara Jenkins in a heartfelt feature debut as writer and director.
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
Generally Jenkins shows few rookie jitters, and she got excellent performances from the rest of her cast.
, Boston Globe
Coming-of-age films don't get any warmer, funnier, raunchier, or more endearing than Tamara Jenkins's brightly feisty memoir, 'Slums of Beverly Hills'.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...a slight movie but a brave one
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Uneven but filled with flashes of painful insight into the pitfalls awaiting adolescent girls.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
A small film with plenty of incidental pleasures, writer/director Jenkins' debut feature puts a winning new spin on the adolescent comedy-drama.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Aside from Corrigan, there is nothing that I can recommend about it.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
not as bad as the title makes it sound
Fred Topel, About.com
Not much humor here. The statement about white trash is lost in an incest subplot. Just a mess.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
A marvelous, fresh new coming-of-age comedy-drama, one that breathes fresh new life into the genre.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
Intelligent, humorous and thoroughly poignant, this can easily hold its own with the best comedies of the year.
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
The movie is great. The DVD is a dud.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Terrific performances from Alan Arkin and Natasha Lyonne dominate this engrossing look at a financially strapped Jewish family trying to survive despite their penury.
James Rocchi, Netflix
Lyonne is a natural, and clearly a young actress to watch.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Refreshingly real.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael S

A great piece of work. One of the most underrated independant films of the 90's.
Michael G

Reasonably funny.
Lanning :

A great study of and living definiton of the dysfunctional family. Arkin is great, and Lyonne was getting strong. What's happened to her?
Marcus W

Excellent little coming-of-age family drama that (thankfully) avoids high-school and focusses on the characters as we see the "other" side of 90210. Arkin has made a career of playing father figures and excels yet again and Tomei shows that there's much more to her… More
Excellent little coming-of-age family drama that (thankfully) avoids high-school and focusses on the characters as we see the "other" side of 90210. Arkin has made a career of playing father figures and excels yet again and Tomei shows that there's much more to her than a pretty face. But it's Lyonne who shows bags of talent as the awkward teen learning that the grass isn't greener on the other side. Definitely worth seeing.
Leo L

Great!