Filmed over a decade ago, writer/director William Jennings’ Harlem Aria is advertised as a tale about dreams, self-destruction, redemption and opera. However, after seeing it, you realize that the film is mostly a showcase for Executive Producer Damon Wayans to chew the scenery and showcase his talents. This would be fine if his performance wasn’t to the detriment of the rest of the cast. However it is, and even the main character seems to get lost in the wake of Wayans’ greedy portrayal of a homeless hustler. The only thing that survives his incessant scene stealing is the wonderful opera tunes.
Anton (Gabriel Casseus) is a sweet but simple savant in the mold of Forrest Gump. He has the habit of believing the best in everyone and trusts what everyone tells him. Anton lives with his caring but unintentionally smothering Aunt (Eyde Byrde) who treats him like a child.
Anton (Gabriel Casseus) is a sweet but simple savant in the mold of Forrest Gump. He has the habit of believing the best in everyone and trusts what everyone tells him. Anton lives with his caring but unintentionally smothering Aunt (Eyde Byrde) who treats him like a child.
- 4/24/2010
- by Rob Young
- JustPressPlay.net
It's a pretty slow DVD release day with very little in the way of new movies out this week, but clearly the biggest title on store shelves is the long-awaited Blu-ray release of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Will people buy this version or wait for the eventual Extended Editions? Other choice picks include Werner Herzog's must-see crime flick Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans starring Nicolas Cage, the first season of the Starz comedy series Party Down, and The Yes Men Fix the World documentary. Do you see anything else worth renting or buying this week? Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans [1] (+ Blu-ray [2]) The Collector [3] (+ Blu-ray [4]) Dolan's Cadillac [5] (+ Blu-ray [6]) Harlem Aria [7] Jade Warrior [8] National Lampoon's Ratko, The Dictator's Son [9] The Weathered Underground [10] The Yes Men Fix the World [11] Dirt! The Movie [12] The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films [13] Party Down: Season 1 [14] Ally McBeal:...
- 4/6/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Harlem Aria is the story of Anton, a young man with a gift, sheltered all his life; an easy target.
Harlem Aria is the story of Matthew, a young man who finally got lucky; a helping hand.
Harlem Aria is the story of Wes, a young man who no longer believes in luck.
Movies like Harlem Aria succeed when we become afraid for its players; when we find ourselves anticipating the worst, even through our half-hearted understanding of the people involved. I’ve now seen Harlem Aria twice, months apart, and in both instances, the initially hesitant crowd has been worked into a frenzy of laughter, gasps, and tears. Its greatest strength, though, is how seamlessly director William Jennings intertwines these emotional responses. A quarter of the way through, you may feel like you know every bit of who these people are, what they have been through, and what they are capable of.
Harlem Aria is the story of Matthew, a young man who finally got lucky; a helping hand.
Harlem Aria is the story of Wes, a young man who no longer believes in luck.
Movies like Harlem Aria succeed when we become afraid for its players; when we find ourselves anticipating the worst, even through our half-hearted understanding of the people involved. I’ve now seen Harlem Aria twice, months apart, and in both instances, the initially hesitant crowd has been worked into a frenzy of laughter, gasps, and tears. Its greatest strength, though, is how seamlessly director William Jennings intertwines these emotional responses. A quarter of the way through, you may feel like you know every bit of who these people are, what they have been through, and what they are capable of.
- 3/6/2010
- by Saul Berenbaum
- JustPressPlay.net
We have the trailer for Magnolia Pictures' "Harlem Aria," starring Damon Wayans(Wes), Gabriel Casseus (Anton), Christian Camargo (Matthew), Edye Byrde (Auntie), Malik Yoba (Luke), Kristen Wilson (Julia), Paul Sorvino (Fabiano Grazzi), Nicole Ari Parker (Clarise) and Richard Edson (Jimmy). Wiliam Jennings directs from his own screenplay. The film is produced by Deepak Nayar and Philip von Alvensleben. The film will play at the Cinema Village in New York City this Friday March 5th. Anton (Gabriel Casseus) isn’t like the other guys in Harlem. He is 28 years old and a little slow, but has a heart of gold and an extraordinary singing voice. Because of his deficit, Anton’s never had a chance to realize the dream that sets him apart in his working class neighborhood: to become a world class opera singer...
- 3/5/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Opening at the Cinema Village in New York City this Friday March 5… it’s called Harlem Aria. According to IMDb, it was actually produced 11 years ago, in 1999, screened at a handful of film festivals over the next few years, and is only now getting a proper release.
Synopsis, from my inbox:
Anton (Gabriel Casseus) isn’t like the other guys in Harlem. He is 28 years old and a little slow, but has a heart of gold and an extraordinary singing voice. Because of his deficit, Anton’s never had a chance to realize the dream that sets him apart in his working class neighborhood: to become a world class opera singer.
His over-protective Auntie, whom he lives with, is unable to accept that Anton is no longer a child, nor that his dream of singing opera is serious. All she sees are the obstacles her nephew faces daily: his dead-end...
Synopsis, from my inbox:
Anton (Gabriel Casseus) isn’t like the other guys in Harlem. He is 28 years old and a little slow, but has a heart of gold and an extraordinary singing voice. Because of his deficit, Anton’s never had a chance to realize the dream that sets him apart in his working class neighborhood: to become a world class opera singer.
His over-protective Auntie, whom he lives with, is unable to accept that Anton is no longer a child, nor that his dream of singing opera is serious. All she sees are the obstacles her nephew faces daily: his dead-end...
- 3/4/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The desire to be an opera singer is a career path that the broad majority of Americans would probably treat with some skepticism. If you come from Harlem, that skepticism is probably more palpable than most places. Yet the protagonist of Bill Jennings’ winning first feature Harlem Aria finds himself in just such a predicament. Anton (Gabriel Casseus), a dim-witted, twentysomething Harlemite who launders clothes for a living and resides with his overbearing grandmother, is determined to do just that. Despite the bullying of local teens and the entreaties from a local drug dealer (Malik Yoba) to work for him, Anton pursues his dream with aplomb and in the process gains a pair of unlikely allies: Wes (a terrific Damon Wayons), an...
- 3/3/2010
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
We have new images in from Magnolia Pictures "Harlem Aria,."The film is helmed and written by William Jennings. Starring are Damon Wayans (Wes), Gabriel Casseus (Anton), Christian Camargo (Matthew), Edye Byrde (Auntie), Malik Yoba (Luke), Kristen Wilson (Julia), Paul Sorvino (Fabiano Grazzi), Nicole Ari Parker (Clarise) and Richard Edson (Jimmy). Deepak Nayar and Philip von Alvensleben produce. Anton (Gabriel Casseus) isn’t like the other guys in Harlem. He is 28 years old and a little slow, but has a heart of gold and an extraordinary singing voice. Because of his deficit, Anton’s never had a chance to realize the dream that sets him apart in his working class neighborhood: to become a world class opera singer...
- 2/25/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
There’s an ad in the latest issue of Home Media Magazine for that the indie film Harlem Aria starring Damon Wayans and Gabriel Casseus coming on on Magnolia DVD April 6. Now lest anyone may think this is a new film think again. The film was actually made back in 1999, and only now is it getting some kind of release. I’m sure anybody who sees the film will quickly figure out that it’s been in the can for a while from the sight of the World Trade Center in the background in a couple of scenes. I remember seeing it in 2001 at the Chicago International Film Festival and that was at least two years even after I first heard about the film in the first place. As for why it’s taken so long to get any kind of release, well I think I can provide that answer for that…...
- 2/10/2010
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
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