Watch City Island

City Island is a heartwarming comedy-drama film that tells the story of the Rizzos, a dysfunctional yet endearing family from the titular City Island, a small fishing community in the Bronx, New York. The patriarch of the family, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia), makes a living as a prison guard, but harbors secret aspirations of becoming an actor. Meanwhile, his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) is a devoted mother and housewife, but feels unappreciated by her husband. Their teenage daughter, Vivian (Dominik García-Lorido), is a college student struggling with her weight and self-esteem, while their young son, Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller), is addicted to online pornography.

The film's plot kicks off when Vince decides to bring home an ex-convict, Tony (Steven Strait), whom he believes is his illegitimate son. He keeps this fact secret from his family, and Tony is introduced as a boarder who Vince is helping to rehabilitate. As time passes, Tony's presence in the household creates comedic and dramatic tension, as family secrets are brought to light and relationships are put to the test.

City Island excels at creating relatable characters and exploring the nuances of the family dynamic. Each member of the Rizzo family is flawed in their own way, but also deeply human and lovable. Vince is both charismatic and clueless, Joyce is both nurturing and resentful, Vivian is both vulnerable and strong-willed, and Vince Jr. is both innocent and curious. Tony, too, is a well-rounded character, with a troubled past and a desire to start anew.

The film also deftly juggles its comedic and dramatic elements, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as well as emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings. The screenplay, written by director Raymond De Felitta, is sharp and witty, with dialogue that feels natural and true to life.

City Island is also notable for its stunning cinematography, which captures the gritty yet picturesque beauty of the Bronx. The film's setting is almost a character in itself, with shots of the quaint houses and bustling streets of City Island providing a sense of place and grounding the story in reality.

Overall, City Island is a charming and memorable film that explores the complexities of family relationships with humor, heart, and nuance. Its stellar cast, engaging screenplay, and gorgeous visuals make it a must-watch for fans of indie cinema and character-driven dramas.

City Island is a 2009 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 66.