Cross Bronx [6/10] : USA 2004 : Larry Golin : 99 mins

• Tale of four NYC pals, all around 18-20, cusp of adulthood. Their mistakes. Mixed foursome, a touch schematic: black athlete / sensitive Jewish hunk / gangsterish Italian (looks like Sean Astin) / introverted artist (looks like Tony Mortimer from East 17)
• Solid performances, convincing dialogue, improvised air - we believe they are pals.
• Avoidance of melodrama is commendable: events do overtake the lads, but all derive from character basis.
• Real Bronx / NYC locales including believable flat which the artist-lad renovates, and thankfully it doesn't become a showplace-type apartment.
• Low-key conclusions to each "story" - lessons learned, romantic and professional.
• Misdeeds major (murder!) and minor (deception) largely go unpunished.
• All about expectations and appearances, the search for identity. Very watchable and likeable, though by no means groundbreaking. New wine in old bottles - except beer seems to be the tipple of choice for this quartet. Even wrestler-ascetic hero (who counts every calorie) eventually succumbs, imbibes.
  
  Neil Young

6th December, 2004
[seen 6th November : Ster Century, Leeds : public show : Leeds Film Festival]

click here for more films from the 2004 Leeds Film Festival