Cheap Little Odessa (DVD) (Tim Roth, Edward Furlong) (James Gray) Price

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Customer Reviews of Little Odessa

Roth and Schell spectacular, though filming is bland.
Maxmillian Schell (Best Actor 1961/ Judgment at Nurremburg) gives one of his better recent performances in this greasy New York film. Tim Roth is great as always, and plays Schell's thugish son. Eastern European immigrant family life leaves a bitter taste. But the strained relationships within are enough reason to see this. Redgrave and Furlong also outstanding in supporting roles.

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A Little Gem....Grippingly Elegant and Spare
This is the first feature film by 24 year-old James Gray, a director who should be regarded as one of America's best young filmakers. Gray - paying hommage to great mafia films such as the Godfather and Mean Streets - transforms a familiar gangster drama into a modern operatic interplay of family and lost dreams. The virtuoso cast - Schell, Redgave, Roth, and Furlong - provides powerful, restrained, and unforgettable performances. Furthermore, Gray does an excellent job at capturing the gritty life of Little Odessa, the Brooklyn enclave where recent Russian immigrants have settled. Many of the scenes have a painted, tableau-like feel to them, and Gray's atmosphere of tension builds in virtually every scene leading to the film's climactic end. With a great cast and formidable directing, Little Odessa should not be missed by any fan of independent films.

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Low key, but packed with emotion

Director: James Gray
Format: Color
Studio: Artisan Entertainment
Video Release Date: August 27, 2002

Cast:

Tim Roth ... Joshua Shapira
Edward Furlong ... Reuben Shapira
Moira Kelly ... Alla Shustervich
Vanessa Redgrave ... Irina Shapira
Paul Guilfoyle ... Boris Volkoff
Natalya Andrejchenko ... Natasha
Maximilian Schell ... Arkady Shapira
David Vadim ... Sasha
Mina Bern ... Grandma Tsilya
Boris McGiver ... Ivan
Mohammed Ghaffari ... Pahlevi
Mikhail Khumrov ... Yuri
Dmitry Preyers ... Victor
David Ross ... Anatoly
Ron Brice ... Man with one leg
Jace Kent ... Mechanic
Marianna Lead ... Clara
Gene Ruffini ... Janitor

This is a strange movie. The only well-known cast members that I knew of were Maximillian Schell and Vanessa Redgrave, and I never recognized them until I saw their names in the credits. They have aged, as have we all. That is more a reflection on me than on the cast, no doubt, because I don't keep up with Hollywood's latest talent, and the ones I do recognize have changed. But, they can still act! The cast is relatively scanty; the movie, however, is of high quality. No need for more cast members.

The color is muted, and it suits the film. It is set in New York City, in Brooklyn. The film evokes emotion, but the acting, though skillful, is also muted. Nothing is overstated. It is very well directed, obviously.

This is the story of a Russian Jewish hit-man, Joshua Shapira (Tim Roth) who is reluctantly returned to his home territory (Brooklyn), where he is a wanted man, for a contract killing.

Joshua finds that his mother, Irina (Vanessa Redgrave), is dying of a brain tumor, and his younger brother, Reuben (Edward Furlong) is cutting school, smoking dope, drinking, and generally headed for trouble. His father, Arkady (Maximillian Schell) is aware that he has failed in bringing up his oldest son. He has a mistress. although he loves his wife. Arkady rejects Joshua as a "street rat," who is loved by Reuben and his mother, Irina. The whole story is fraught with pent-up emotion. Execution scenes, although shown, are not overly graphic, although the film is rated "R" (probably for language).

It is made for mature audiences, but is of good quality throughout. I'm glad I saw it. It has emotional impact.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books