Rockaway (2017) Reviews

• Great Coming of Age Story

  mcleary-354182019-01-20

  Rockaway is a great story about two brothers, a group of friends, and a family that goes the lengths for each other. Taking place in the summer of 1994 in Rockaway, New York, the film brings back the nostalgia of pure good trouble-making fun with friends while learning the reality that each of your friends has a whole world inside of them. Coming from different homes and backstories, the story centers on brothers John and Anthony, who protect each other from their abusive father they combat with themselves to love, understand, and live with. No matter how bad it gets at home though, they know they have each other and their friends-- a true team. The boys learn to endure and get past the pain through sticking together, but not without a journey along the way. Rockaway stands as a great coming of age story for a boy growing up, turning learned behavior into absolute love.

• Genuine - Worth Watching

  agsconsulting28742019-01-22

  This is a real review, by a real person. You can check my other reviews to verify that. I thought the movie was well-done. The acting was excellent. I was impressed by the talent and power of the these young actors and look forward to seeing more from them. The visual effects were quite good, and I really felt like I was watching something that was filmed in the past when this actually happened. The film moved well, and moved me also. It flowed well, and kept my interest throughout. I won't go into the story line, as other reviewers have done a good job of that already. I will only say that it is a story that needs to be told, especially since it is based on actual events. The real-life characters are shown in the end credits next to their movie counterparts. I recommend it without hesitation.

• nostalgia and abuse

  ferguson-62019-01-11

  Greetings again from the darkness. This is established Visual Effects artist John J Budion's first feature film as writer-director, and he likely exorcises some personal demons with a semi-autobiographical look back at his childhood. Set in the summer of 1994 in East Rockaway, New York, the story is told from the perspective of an adult John (Frankie J Alvarez), who narrates his recollections of that year. Young John (played by Maxwell Apple), a somewhat withdrawn kid, hero worships brash New York Knicks guard John Starks to the point that he wears a Starks jersey almost non-stop. The two are polar opposite personalities, and the only one who really understands John's obsession is his protective older brother Anthony (Keidrich Sellati, Henry from "The Americans"). Why does John need Anthony's protection? Well that's due to their abusive father (Wass Stevens, THE WRESTLER) who is bitter and angry most of the time - and takes it out on the boys and their mother (Marjan Neshat). The brothers share two wishes: a championship for their beloved Knicks and a more peaceful living environment without their abusive father. They are so focused on the latter that they've created a scheme to "off" the angry dad - this despite their mother's promise to take them away from it all as soon as she finds work in another city. It's about this time when John and Anthony meet some other neighborhood boys, and what follows is the easy camaraderie of kids when no parents are polluting the moment (an ideal that seems quite antiquated in this day and age). Billy (a standout Harrison Wittmeyer) is the mature-beyond-his years leader, Dom (James DiGiamcomo) is the unathletic jokester, Brian (Tanner Flood) is the brainy one, and Sal (Colin Critchley) is the motor-mouthed preener. The boys share a love of sports and the fine art of needling each other with sharp cut-downs. In other words, they are kids being kids, and this escapism opens up a new world for Anthony and John. It's a coming of age story with obvious comparisons to STAND BY ME and THE SANDLOT, and though not at the level of either of those classics, it does feature some fine nostalgic moments of childhood. The film suffers a bit from an ending that's overly sappy and clean, though kudos to all involved if this is true to their life. It's certainly a stretch for most. Adults are more likely than kids to find appeal here, and the film might have benefited from a better exploration of what drove the dad to such extremes.

• One I will never forget

  zreshetar2019-01-25

  After reading the remarkable review in the New York Times, I slide down in my seat and made myself comfortable. The movie appeared to be reminiscent of my young childhood days. The familiarity with small town life and the emotions from the characters became a part of me. It allowed me to be absorbed in its strength and anger. You can feel the support and friendship that grew between the brothers and friends as they struggled with the violence from the father. A true bond. A strong film. One I will never forget.

• Strikingly Exhilarating

  bdessart2019-01-22

  After reading the review on "Rockaway" in The New Yorker, seeing this movie was a no-brainer. From start to finish, director John J. Budion and cast take viewers on an intense journey that's both easy to follow and internally stimulating. The organization in the depth of each character's role is extremely well formulated. ... Check it out. This movie is definitely a must-see - disappointment won't be an option.