City Island (2009)

Every family has it's secrets. Or, more correctly, every family member has them. This movie is primarily about best-kept secrets. There are enough character studies in this story to keep a professional amused.

Andy Garcia plays a second generation City Island native, or Clam Digger, who keeps multiple secrets from his family. Julianna Margulies plays a wife with no secrets, apparently. Steven Strait plays one of the secrets and Dominik Garcia-Lorido (yes Andy's real daughter) plays his daughter with a few secrets of her own. The secret keeping son is played by Ezra Miller. All in all - a very funny dysfunctional family. But in truth, their only real problem is that they don't tell each other the truth.

Alan Arkin and Emily Mortimer have wonderful roles as well. You gotta love movies where new Yorkers poke a little fun at themselves.

If you think you know NYC but have never heard of City Island (a best kept secret itself), you will probably love this movie. If your family needs a lesson in telling the truth to each other, this is a great story to help you get there. If you like a story with a very credible, funny, tidy ending, you should love this one.

Watch this movie with someone who has dreams of being an actor.