Heights (2005)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

'Heights' takes an intimate look at urban lives in New York. The movie centres around four characters: a passionate actress, a photographer and her fiancée and a struggling actor who moonlights as a waiter. Each of these characters are lost and isolated in a crowded New York. Jonathan and Isabel are engaged and only days away from getting married but, while on the surface everything appears to be okay, their relationship is very dysfunctional. Diana is a respected actress who is liked by everyone but she too craves for intimacy that she hits on pretty much anyone. The hardworking Alec is obviously struggling to become an actor in a city of struggling artistes yet he manages to get through the day while being in a secret relationship. Amy Fox has done a fine job in the writing department. The film is based on her play and the subtle way in which she peels the layers of each character comes across very well on camera. The cinematography is superb as it captures the shots very photogenically. Terrio clearly knows how to select the right locations and to present them on screen. 'Heights' also highlights the marvelous performances of its four leads. I've never particularly thought of Glenn Close as hot but here she looks absolutely stunning. Her nuanced portrayal of Diana is a knockout. Elizabeth Banks is terrific as she downplays Isabel while James Marsden is outstanding as the troubled and conflicted Jonathan. Jesse Bradford is notable in a tricky role that is a surprise element to the story. 'Heights' may not be everybody's cup of tea but it is an absorbing human drama for those who are looking for something more than mere entertainment. It is a little slow in the beginning but as we know more about the characters, we feel more involved.

Overall the director gives the viewer a taste of each of the lives of the characters in the film. The basis of the film seems to focus on the idea of what is real, and what the characters want to be real and the same for what is fake. The lead, Diana, and her numerous appearances in the film, not just her physical appearance, play an opposition to the significance of Benjamin Stone and his impact that go hand in hand with his identity. Overall all a well done piece for the story that was presented, keeping a viewer absorbed with wanting to find the truth. The acting was above par for the most part. Jesee Bradford does a fine job of keeping himself in confusion as well as the audience. And Glenn Close, well shes Gleen Close, enough said, an excellent performance by and excellent actress. The one comment still in question is the usage of split screens for some scenes. Is this really a necessity for the film?

What a wasted cast.This is one of the most disappointing films I've seen.Usually Roger Ebert does not let me down, but I feel cheated after seeing this movie.The only thrill is seeing Elizabeth banks in her bra. That is a sorry statement about this movie. It held so much promise, but it was like dry humping a transvestite.This is self absorbed tripe.I cannot express deeply enough my bitterness at having sat through this movie, and hope I can forewarn you of the same disappointment.

I thought they should have called this movie "Whites" instead of "Heights". Godawful...the kind of film that makes people hate New Yorkers. People who are so self obsessed and think their lives are so important...give me a break. Such a lily white cast that Glenn Close was the most ethnic character in it, this film was crying out for someone real to come in and steal it...and so they introduce, get this, a character even whiter than the rest of the cast (I thought he was an albino at first)who's supposed to be Welsh!I'm still trying to decipher that accent! Intellectually dishonest...this movie is the kind of film that's able to fool so many people into thinking it's worthwhile because it has the trappings of something more ambitious. Better to fill the theaters with MI5-10 than with this pretentious crap...must have been a better play because you can't fall off the floor.