Rockaway

If you like young teenage drama movie, this is a good choice,because the 6 boys on the main cast were sooo good, very relaxed and in the mood for good dialouges and acting. its fun ,its sad, its cruel, its love, its shy, its death so the director must have cleared the ground in a good way. its a socalled narrative movie,and that is very well done. what i didnt like was the last quater of the film, its like the helium went out of the balloon, and would have easily been a 9 or a 10, but thats my opinion also the score missed my marks, but the filmo and editing are really good. dont let me spoil the dinner, its recommendable enough, enjoy the newcomers in the movieworld, they are good...

I really enjoyed the film! The dialogue flowed naturally, the actors showed tremendous connection to both the story and to each other. It was very well directed and believable! I highly recommend it for any age.

I'm generally hesitant to watch a film with so many young actors, but the performances given by these young men completely carry the film. I looked them up after, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they are all working actors from hit tv shows or other films. Maybe I gave it an extra star or star and a half, but it took me back to a place of simpler times, and reminded me of my childhood. Downright enjoyable. Highly recommend.

After reading the review on "Rockaway" in The New Yorker, seeing this movie was a no-brainer. From start to finish, director John J. Budion and cast take viewers on an intense journey that's both easy to follow and internally stimulating. The organization in the depth of each character's role is extremely well formulated. ... Check it out. This movie is definitely a must-see - disappointment won't be an option.

After reading the remarkable review in the New York Times, I slide down in my seat and made myself comfortable. The movie appeared to be reminiscent of my young childhood days. The familiarity with small town life and the emotions from the characters became a part of me. It allowed me to be absorbed in its strength and anger. You can feel the support and friendship that grew between the brothers and friends as they struggled with the violence from the father. A true bond. A strong film. One I will never forget.

Greetings again from the darkness. This is established Visual Effects artist John J Budion's first feature film as writer-director, and he likely exorcises some personal demons with a semi-autobiographical look back at his childhood. Set in the summer of 1994 in East Rockaway, New York, the story is told from the perspective of an adult John (Frankie J Alvarez), who narrates his recollections of that year. Young John (played by Maxwell Apple), a somewhat withdrawn kid, hero worships brash New York Knicks guard John Starks to the point that he wears a Starks jersey almost non-stop. The two are polar opposite personalities, and the only one who really understands John's obsession is his protective older brother Anthony (Keidrich Sellati, Henry from "The Americans"). Why does John need Anthony's protection? Well that's due to their abusive father (Wass Stevens, THE WRESTLER) who is bitter and angry most of the time - and takes it out on the boys and their mother (Marjan Neshat). The brothers share two wishes: a championship for their beloved Knicks and a more peaceful living environment without their abusive father. They are so focused on the latter that they've created a scheme to "off" the angry dad - this despite their mother's promise to take them away from it all as soon as she finds work in another city. It's about this time when John and Anthony meet some other neighborhood boys, and what follows is the easy camaraderie of kids when no parents are polluting the moment (an ideal that seems quite antiquated in this day and age). Billy (a standout Harrison Wittmeyer) is the mature-beyond-his years leader, Dom (James DiGiamcomo) is the unathletic jokester, Brian (Tanner Flood) is the brainy one, and Sal (Colin Critchley) is the motor-mouthed preener. The boys share a love of sports and the fine art of needling each other with sharp cut-downs. In other words, they are kids being kids, and this escapism opens up a new world for Anthony and John. It's a coming of age story with obvious comparisons to STAND BY ME and THE SANDLOT, and though not at the level of either of those classics, it does feature some fine nostalgic moments of childhood. The film suffers a bit from an ending that's overly sappy and clean, though kudos to all involved if this is true to their life. It's certainly a stretch for most. Adults are more likely than kids to find appeal here, and the film might have benefited from a better exploration of what drove the dad to such extremes.