The Only Living Boy in New York

2017
6.3| 1h29m| en| More Info
Released: 27 July 2017 Released
Producted By: Bona Fide Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

When a young man learns that his overbearing father is having an affair, he tries to stop it, only to be seduced by the older woman as well.

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ljphoenixwatts My husband and I watched this movie at home without reading about it first and without having any idea what to expect. It took us on a nice, refreshing little trip with lots of memorable characters and a great story line, and it left us feeling better, richer, even, for having watched it. I think this is one of the best movies that's come out lately that didn't have a super hero in it. Not that I object to super heroes.. I don't at all. Anyway, this movie is as good as Lady Bird, in my opinion, and it has a lot of Lady Bird's best features. It requires a little bit of thoughtfulness on the viewer's part to be enjoyed - not an extreme amount, just a little. About as much as Lady Bird does. And there's a lot of satisfaction at the end as payout for being a little thoughtful while watching it.Also, like Lady Bird, this is a story about someone moving into young adulthood -- a stressful time anyway - while having to navigate weirder family circumstances than the average person usually seems to have to deal with. It's different from Lady Bird, too, though, in that it's kind of a little mystery story. It's unique enough to watch separately.The crux of the movie is about that relationship between a boy and the men in his family. I think everyone knows that essentially the relationships between boys and men in families are really, honestly, at their cores, exactly the same as the relationships between females in families, but there's some kind of cultural denial about male family relationships. I saw in this movie an honesty about male characters that most movies are not willing to reflect.While it turned out to be no problem at all, the characters in this movie were initially not quite as relatable to me as they were in Lady Bird, and one thing that initially made them less relatable was all the maleness. But this is a story about men that I think women would appreciate seeing, and it's about time. After thirty minutes or so, I was deeply engrossed. The second thing that made it initially hard to relate: this is a story about people with more money than I'll ever have. Once I realized it was necessary for the story line and they weren't going to rub it in my face, all was well.Great movie.
bikerhiker46 Can't remember the last time I enjoyed a movie as much as I enjoyed this! Wonderful writing, brilliant. concept, masterful acting, great cinematography! What's not to love? Jeff Bridges was the perfect choice for the difficult role he played, as were the rest of the cast. Certainly an original concept, one that reminds me that every time I think that subject matter and approach have been totally exhausted someone comes up with something entirely new. How anyone could not love this movie I can't even begin to fathom...
CineMuseFilms It's tough but true: the 1960s and The Graduate (1967) will never happen again. Although the title of The Only Living Boy in New York (2017) is a nod to the iconic romantic comedy that was immortalised in music by Simon and Garfunkel, this new film is more of a twisty Woody Allen-style coming-of-age story about growing up in contemporary America. Same theme, different tune.The film's key narrative device rests on a young man meeting a stranger who is writing a book based on the young man's life as it unfolds in real time. Twenty-something and nerdish, Thomas (Callum Turner) wants to be a writer and knows that he must experience the pain of living before he can write seriously. He has decided that beautiful Mimi (Kiersey Ciemons) is his one true love based on one night in bed but for her it was a bit of fun with a close friend. Thomas finds a stranger called W.F. (Jeff Bridges) sitting on his stairs who offers wise counsel despite efforts to avoid him. Soon W.F. is his muse and mentor and Thomas shares everything of his life and dreams. When Thomas discovers that his father Ethan (Pierce Brosnan) is having an affair, his worldview is shattered. He stalks the lover Johanna (Kate Beckinsale), confronts her, and ends up in her bed. It transpires that every relationship in Thomas' life is not what he thought it was. Welcome to adulthood.Calling the film Woody Allen-esque is shorthand for a storytelling style that depends on angst- laden whimsy. Thomas is a likable boy whose emotional fragility is a result of family wealth, middle-class breeding, and graduate education, so it's faintly pleasurable to witness his shocked awakening to how relationships work in the real world. What happens is nowhere near as significant to the film as how the characters react to unexpected change and the role of the mysterious W.F. Young Tom's loss of innocence is followed by a primitive masculine urge, just as his father's reaction to his infidelity being discovered is to exert brute force over others. While emotional worlds are cracking, W.F. listens and counsels, like an ancient omniscient narrator who also seems to shape the storyline as we watch. When his book is finished, so is the story except for a final twist that reveals who he is.Stylishly filmed and well-acted by a stellar ensemble, the film is also an exposé of privileged life in New York, with enough insider jokes and cultural references to make most audiences feel like they are outside looking in. No doubt the glasshouse effect is intended, as it is possible to stay interested but disconnected from its characters and their feelings. If you prefer action-based movies, there is not a lot happening here. But if you enjoy a nostalgic revisit to early adulthood accompanied by evocative music in an urban bohemian setting, there is enough to keep you engaged in the movie until its satisfyingly unexpected finale.
whernstadt I can't understand why so many people rated it so low. The graduate was great when I saw it 50 years ago, and this is fascinating in today's world. As one character says people are different now. But they are not! Overactive desire in the young man and anger that he can not find an outlet and does not know what to do with his life is classic. People are human with the same passions and desires over the ages, and neurosis and alcoholism is nothing new. I was born in NYC and love to see the city and its vibrancy. 3 of my wives were from New York and I understand relationships, so I feasted upon how the story develops. Yes too slow for some and not enough nakedness for others, but real humanity is there. Acting good and New York far more interesting than Philadelphia. Film reviewers be damned. Bill in Singapore