The Yards ★★½ 2000 (R) Director James Gray presents a gloomy, tragic New York story once again in his follow-up to "Little Odessa." Just out of the joint, Leo (Wahlberg) returns home to find that his mother Val (Burstyn) is suffering from a heart condition and his girl Erica (Theron) has taken up with his best friend Willie (Phoenix). Deciding to do right by mom, Leo decides to get a job with his Uncle Frank (Caan), whose company makes and repairs New York City trains. He discovers that his uncle isn't as squeaky clean as he thought when he joins Willie's crew, running highly illegal errands for Frank. On a sabotage mission to a competing company, Willie murders a security guard and tries to pin the crime on Leo. Leo is now chased by the cops and Uncle Frank's "family." Gray's writing is superb and the cast turns in good performances as well, although Theron's Noo Yawk accent tends to grate. 115m/C VHS, DVD, Wide. Mark Wahlberg, James Caan, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Rafael (Leaf) Phoenix, Ellen Burstyn, Faye Dunaway, Tony Musante, Steve Lawrence, Victor Argo, Tomas Milian, Victor Arnold, Chad Aaron, Andrew Davoli, Robert Montano;
Director:
James Gray;
Writer:
James Gray, Matt Reeves;
Writer:
Harris Savides;
Cameo:
Howard Shore. Natl. Bd. of Review '00: Support. Actor (Phoenix).
