Looking for an Echo (2000) User Reviews

An authentic and loving view of family, do wop music and Brooklyn

[Dutch1968 · 7/10 · 18 August 2005]

I grew up in the Metro New York area during the do wop period in rock and roll so I know the music well. I've also been acquainted with some "one hit wonders" living in serene obscurity. I discovered I was living next door to the lead singer of a do wop group with a very big hit record for fifteen years only after another neighbor mentioned it to me in passing.

This small budget movie was written, directed and acted by people who know the territory. The cast is uniformly excellent with Armand Assante, Diane Venora, Edoardo Ballerini, Christy Carlson Romano and Joe Grifaci leading the way.

Shot on locations around Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay and Bay Ridge in Diners, Taverns, Wedding Halls and under the Verrazano Bridge, the film captures the sense of the Italian Irish Brooklyn that predominated in the late 50's and early 60's and lives on today in small enclaves.

Kenny Vance from Jay and the Americans wrote the title song and did the vocals for "Vinnie". A small quibble about the music: the big hit from the fictional Vinnie and the Dreamers was "This I Swear", a bona fide hit for the real life "Skyliners". It might have worked better if they had picked a more obscure song from that era.

One notable attribute about the "one hit wonder" from the 50's and 60's that I personally know and the way he is accurately portrayed by Armand Assante is how easily they took their "15 minutes of fame" and moved on to mundane lives as cops, teachers, bartenders, etc. The groups of that era were financially ripped off and rarely got any significant money. This is a stark contrast to today's reality show contestants who get agents and linger on the fringes as long as they can.

Bottom line: this movie was made by people who cared.

The perfect counterpoint to Eddie & the Cruisers

[rooprect · 7/10 · 10 January 2012]

The 80s masterpiece, "Eddie & the Cruisers" by director Martin Davidson asked the age old question Neil Young sang and Kurt Cobain quoted in his suicide note: is it "better to burn out than to fade away"? Musicians, artists, inventors, athletes and achievers from all walks of life have wondered this after reaching a pinnacle of success. In "E&tC", Davidson approaches the subject from the "burn out" perspective, and here 20 years later he revisits it from the "fade away".

As such, this is not the explosive, energetic story of the rock n roll martyr Eddie, but instead it's the quiet, thoughtful, relatively uneventful story of the retiree Vinnie. While it features some stunning, passionate scenes that you won't forget, it's essentially just the story of an Everyman dealing with everyday life in the wake of long gone glory.

I have to admit after seeing this I felt slightly unfulfilled, thinking there should've been more of a big conflict, nerve-ripping climax and bam finish. But then I realized that's precisely NOT what Davidson wanted, nor would it have been appropriate. Vinnie is a somber man who chose to retire from his fantasy past in order to face the less-poetic challenges of life. The conflict within him is what this story is about. So the movie doesn't need any fancy theatrics, plot twists & melodrama.

With that in mind, be forewarned: for the entire first half, almost nothing happens. And I mean nothing. Like the main character's life, it didn't really have much direction, passion or intrigue. But like a growing toothache, the conflict builds inside him as he really begins to question his station in life, particularly through the vicarious thrill of his son's budding music career. The climax comes in growing spurts as the film progresses, culminating with a powerful, wonderfully acted scene at the end when we see Vinnie finally give voice to the demons that have been secretly plaguing him. Armand Assante pulls it off like no other actor could have.

I have the sudden urge to watch "Eddie & the Cruisers" and then watch "Looking for an Echo" again. If you enjoy quiet, pensive films about everyday human beings, I'm sure you'll want to see this at least once. And for pete's sake, if you haven't already seen it, go see E&tC right away! These are two unappreciated films that each capture the nostalgia of a bygone musical age, putting the past in context with our lives today.

Slice of Life and Sound

[bluecrab22 · 8/10 · 13 July 2010]

"A place to live in harmony, a place we almost found." Kenny Vance

In 1964, I used to hang around a bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (where "Looking..." is set). I wasn't from the neighborhood, but they'd let me in even though I was but seventeen - the legal age at that time was eighteen. Most Fridays would find me at the bar, drinking and listening to the bar band play...and sing. It was obvious that the band guys could sing, but they were singing stuff like "Wooden Heart," maybe a Beatles tune or two - nothing that you could call doo-wop.

I began to bug the band with taunts like, "Hey, why doncha sing some harmony, man!?" and when they weren't performing I would talk to them a bit. They were local guys. One night after their set, after they'd heard one too many jibes from me, they dragged me into the men's room and sang some very nice harmony. They really hit some notes and I never taunted them again.

"Looking For An Echo" reminds me of those days. I found myself singing along to the harmony parts of "Please Say You Want Me," a song much-loved and covered in mid-1960s Brooklyn and Queens. And also, of course, that latter-day hymn to harmony, "Looking For An Echo."

A kind of musically oriented "Goodfellas" where the fellas really are good. A must-see for anyone who's ever sung a note of harmony.

Was going well until...

[emswife-1 · 29 May 2003]

I saw this movie late last night on HBO and since, and since I had never heard of it prior to this and am intrigued with the whole "doo-wop", I gave it a watch.

All of that good acting and performance was just plain killed. Since I agreed not to present "spoilers", it is hard to tell you why but let's just say this... once, just once, I would like to see a director realize the best singing performances are done by actors who can actually sing. Sissy Spacek did it in "Coal Miner's Daughter" (along with Beverly D'Angleo)... Bette Midler did it in "The Rose" (maybe that one isn't fair as Midler was singing long before she was acting)... Gary Busey did it in "The Buddy Holly Story". Why, oh why must bad lip synching be allowed to ruin a great movie? The story was great, the side bar stories were great, the group was believable (although given the great names of the"doo-wop" groups like the Chesterfield, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, The Coasters, I think they could have done better than "Vinnie and the Dreamers". I could think of half a dozen "better" doo-wop group names off the top of my head), and then... kerplunk. The ending...

Watch it, enjoy the pathos and the great performances (especially those with the daughter), listen to some amazing harmonizing and then close your eyes and hear one of the best endings to a movie... just don't spoil it by opening your eyes!

What's Old is New

[sjanders-86430 · 6/10 · 15 September 2020]

No matter when it's in or out whatever was good will always be good. It will peak and disappear and reappear. Good is never out. Harmonies from before 1964 will never vaporize; they will delight future generations. Street raps will recede into forgottonville too, but not forever.

Worth a Watch and...a Hear!

[Lee-107 · 9/10 · 6 July 2002]

I totally agree with what the only other reviewer of this film has commented. Indeed, the lack of comments, though no fault of the film itself, is a comment on its own. Maybe the distributors of this film went somewhere awry while marketing it, because I thought it was a really decent film, with some good acting that would have certainly garnered more audience, not to mention, appreciation. Armand Assante seemed as much at home in his character as if he had always been a chart-topping singer(albeit a one-hit wonder) in his heydays. Credit also goes to the director Martin Davidson who, I can say, managed convincingly to create the whole set-up - Vince, his fellow-crooners and their issues, Vince and his daughter and her evident problem and Vince and his son Anthony and the conflict therein. I have long admired Davidson's 1989 film 'Heart of Dixie'. It had some marvelous performances by Ally Sheedy and Treat Williams and the 1960s American South was evoked in all its pathetic beauty.

The music of this film is certainly one of its attractions. Little snippets of songs, apparently sung by Vinnie and the Dreamers are played at the right moments to enhance the film's aura. Diane Venora's performance was aptly charged. And so was Edoardo Ballerini's. His scene with Assante in the hospital where the latter breaks down is the emotional tear-point of the film(both for the characters and the audience). The other high point is of course Anthony's solo of 'This I Swear'. If that was Ballerini's own voice up there, then boy, he should think of a probable career switch! The only other film I've seen Edoardo in is in the zany John Leguizamo-starrer 'The Pest' in which he convincingly put on a German accent(adding much to the humor of the film) to play Himmel, the "sissy" son of a crazed neo-Nazi! He's an actor of great potential - which I hope is fittingly explored through many other good roles. With its music, a cast that has rendered good performances and a feel-good ending, 'Looking For an Echo' is definitely worth a watch.

Do-do-do-do-do-do-dee-dee-wop!

[=G= · 5/10 · 4 December 2002]

"Looking for an Echo" is a slice of 50-year-old life flick with Asante as a widower, a bartender, a has-been pop singer/musician, and the father of a daughter with cancer. The flick offers a whole lot of doo-wop singing and carousing with old singing pals while working in side plots involving the daughter's illness, romance with a nurse, and family issues. Ill focused, "Looking...." seems to have little plot or purpose but makes for an easy-going, soapy watch which tries hard to leave the audience feeling good. With little to fault and little to praise, "Looking...." is a lukewarm but sincere film product which will be most enjoyed by lovers of vocal harmonizing (circa 50's-60's) and Asante fans. (C)

woah! amazing. I don't like oldies as a rule... this is different

[madnancym · 10/10 · 17 May 2004]

The movie was on cable, I didn't choose it on purpose... but I stood there in the middle of the living room thinking "oh my god... what is this?" The harmonies were amazing... I don't like oldies as a rule--I love soul, r&b, hip hop, even heavy metal--but I had to see this movie again. Then, I had to have it. It's just one of those. I find myself dragging my kid's keyboard out of the back room, and sitting in front of the TV during Anthony's acoustic version of Vinnie's song, playing it over and over and over, thinking to myself "this is so simple and perfect, I can play this... I can sing this..." but there is something magical about the song, the performance... that just can't be captured in real life... it's not a pasteurized, homogenized, production version either... I can't explain it. You have to see it. *whew*

music to swoon to

[TRISH1449 · 10/10 · 20 November 2005]

While channel surfing I stumbled on this movie and now I own it. I don't buy many movies but this is one I had to have. A perfect movie to put on when it's one of those rainy days when you just want to relax. The music draws you in and you find you want more music and less talking. Being a fan of Armand Assante I found this one of his best. The love his character had for his children was so evident and you knew all he wanted was their happiness. And then there was Edoardo Ballerini. Great eye candy and if that was his voice - can't wait to buy his CD's. This is one of those movies that makes you wish for the days when music made you swoon....

What a great movie to review from a cast extra!

[dPhAnToM · 10/10 · 29 May 2006]

This movie was a once in a life time experience for me, because I have worked with some of the greatest actors of all time. I was pretty impressed with the final product of the movie, and it's story line. Watching the movie brought me back to 1997 when it was filmed and the late night that I had to put in for my restaurant walk in role. We did not finish until 1:30 in the morning with that scene. The band does re-unite and play gigs like weddings, but the lead's daughter in the movie dies in the end of the movie. Looking for an Echo is a definitive masterpiece in the movie world and there should be many more movies like it. The crew was great because they gave a chance for locals to be the extras...and I was one of those lucky locals. Other movies about fictional bands include: The Wedding Singer, and the 1984 classic This is Spinal Tap. These three movies focused on the bands, their trials, tribulations, and personal lives while not performing. After seeing Looking for an Echo, please give The Wedding Singer and This is Spinal Tap a view too. Just a note to let you know...The Boyz II Men Mega Hit "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye (To Yesterday)" was used as the movie's opening and closing song during the credits and DVD menu montage...and it (the song)was released in 1997! Just weeks after the film wrapped up. So if you older folks thought that the opening and closing credits song was from the 50's you are "railroaded" a young person's way of telling you that you are wrong.

Edoardo Ballerini - WOW!!!!

[audreybeavers · 9/10 · 4 June 2003]

This is truly a very enjoyable movie and though different from other films Armand Assante has done, he did great job. However, Edoardo Ballerini is my reason for watching it again & again. He not only demonstrated unique acting ability as Tony, but feel certain he will soon get the recognition he deserves. I for one, will be looking forward to other Edoardo films.

A sweet film with great music!

[MAFIOSA · 8/10 · 24 September 2006]

Find this film and check it out. It is worth the effort. I found it accidentally, while bored and berating the "so many channels, so much crap," syndrome.

I found myself singing along and smiling at the TV. Basically, it's the story of a the reunion of a rising Jersey "Do Wop" group whose career was killed by the rise of the Beatles. They are older, somewhat wiser and looking back at the hands life has dealt them. If you like 50's/60's music, good looking Italian guys or Jersey, you'll love this movie.

It's worth it just to see Armand Assante, shirtless. Hey, I'm old, not dead.

Check it out,you be glad you did.!

Entertaining film with a great soundtrack.

[LLMsc · 8/10 · 12 March 2001]

This film missed its audience in theatrical release. It will be an entertaining rental and good watch on cable. A man's struggle to overcome his past brings him full circle. Great soundtrack by Kenny Vance and the Planotones.