Washington Heights (2002)
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79% of critics liked it
(38 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(450 ratings)
Carlos (Manny Perez) is a talented artist who draws comics for a living. He's desperate to move out of his Washington Heights neighborhood. His girlfriend, Maggie (Andrea Navedo) feels more connected to the neighborhood. She's not so eager to leave. Carlos's best friend, Mickey (Danny… More Carlos (Manny Perez) is a talented artist who draws comics for a living. He's desperate to move out of his Washington Heights neighborhood. His girlfriend, Maggie (Andrea Navedo) feels more connected to the neighborhood. She's not so eager to leave. Carlos's best friend, Mickey (Danny Hoch), works as a super in the building his father owns, but he dreams of being a professional bowler. He's scheming to raise three grand to enter an open tournament in Las Vegas. Carlos's father, Eddie (accomplished Cuban-born actor Tomas Milian, who starred in Michelangelo Antonioni's Indentificazione di una donna), owns a neighborhood grocery store, and is well-liked in the neighborhood for his friendly way of doing business. Despite his advanced age, he's also a ladies' man, and was so even before Carlos's mother passed away. His philandering ways account for a lot of the tension between father and son. Carlos wants to draw his own comic book, but his boss, David (David Zayas) tells him that while he's got technical ability, his work is soulless. But Carlos's plans for the future are disrupted when Eddie is shot and critically wounded during a robbery at the store. Carlos resentfully takes care of his ailing father, and runs the store until Eddie can go back to work. Carlos's growing understanding of his community, and his father's importance to it, is reflected in his work, and he has a creative breakthrough. Meanwhile, Mickey's moneymaking schemes get him into trouble with Angel (Bobby Cannavale), Maggie's gangster brother. Washington Heights was directed by Alfredo De Villa, who wrote the script with Nat Moss. Novelist Junot Diaz (Drown) wrote additional dialogue. The film was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival, and at the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival, where it received a Special Mention. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alfredo De Villa
- Written By
- Alfredo De Villa, Nat Moss
- Genres
- Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- May 9, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Mac Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
A promising debut that makes us anticipate this Columbia University film grad's sophomore work.
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Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
Buoyed by strong performances from Perez and Miami-resident Milian, Washington Heights overcomes the familiarity of its premise through its passion and conviction.
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Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Washington Heights is sloppy and often undernourished, but it convincingly creates a neighborhood throbbing with activity and caring.
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Michael Booth, Denver Post
Deserves a wide audience hungry for sympathetic, three-dimensional people caught up in something bigger than themselves.
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Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Washington Heights may not always be great, but director Alfredo de Villa lights an undeniable fire in the movie's belly.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Tomas Milian
as Eddie
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Manny Perez
as Carlos
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Andrea Navedo
as Maggie
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Jude Ciccolella
as Sean
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Bobby Cannavale
as Angel
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David Zayas
as David
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Judy Reyes
as Daisy
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Callie Thorne
as Raquel
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Gloria Irizarry
as Senora Marquez
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Ann McDonough
as Mrs. Kilpatrick
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Jaime Tirelli
as Guillermo
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Gary Perez
as Pablo
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Darien Sills-Evans
as Danny
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Josh Stamberg
as Dr. Field
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Roberto Sanchez
as Tito
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Michael Hyatt
as Michelle
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Manny Hoch
as Mickey
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Brian DeJesus
as Steven
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Lisa Hammer
as Berna
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Marcos Palma
as Rafael
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Sara Ramirez
as Belkis
- Danny Hoch
