King of the Corner
(Rating: 6 by Al)
(2004—Peter Riegert—USA) A man — and not just any man; it’s the 40-something Peter Riegert!!! — is forced to examine his life as various parts of it start falling apart. After bumping into her in the street, Riegert has an Afternoon Delight with a woman after whom he lusted in high school. He then both tells his wife about it AND goes to the woman’s house to meet her husband, who promptly pummels him. Riegert is also having problems with his daughter and his aging father (the 90-year-old Eli Wallach!!!), who, fortunately or unfortunately, dies. Riegert is also about to be hustled out of his own job by his much younger and highly ambitious protegee. He overcomes *that* crisis, however, with a bit of soft blackmailing of his boss. It doesn’t sound like it but this is a comedy, and a Very good one at that. Quirky and insightful. Rita Moreno and Isabella Rossellini turn in Excellent work as long-suffering wives. Eric Bogosian plays a quirky rabbi who delivers the funeral eulogy for Eli Wallach that we’d alllllll like to hear. We originally resisted seeing this film because we thought it might be “too Jewish,” it being advertised in some circles as “…a Yiddish ‘Sideways.’” We stumbled into the theatre for a 9:30 p.m. Saturday-night screening, however, and found this film to be irresistible. Better yet, the director/writer/ actor Peter Riegert was there for a Q&A and, following that, we got to chat with him personally. Do not miss renting this wonderful little indy film. (1 hour 33)