Two Family House (2000) User Reviews

Apartment for rent in private home in Staten Island

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 25 September 2005]

Raymond DeFelitta, the director of the current release, "The Thing About my Folks", working with his own material, created this wonderful film, which should be seen more often. Unfortunately, when this film first came out, it had wonderful notices, but alas, it disappeared too soon for us to catch up with it. Thanks to HBO, the film was shown recently and it proved to be worthy of the praise we had heard about.

The story takes place in the fifties. The characters at the center of the film, are basically Italian-Americans living in Staten Island. Buddy and Estelle Visalo, are the owners of a two family house in need of repairs. The upstairs apartment has been rented to an Irish couple, Mary and Jim, who are going through a rough moment in their lives.

Buddy, with the help of his friends from the tavern that is the social meeting point of the neighborhood, is trying to evict the couple upstairs, after it's clear they are up to no good and can't pay the rent. It proves to be too late because Mary begins her labor pains and Estelle, who doesn't like the woman, helps in the delivery. But horror of horrors, the little baby proves to be much more than what Mary was expecting, and Jim abandons her.

The Italian landlord develops a friendship toward Mary, who he succeeds in evicting, but feels terribly about it. He rescues her from the flea bag hotel where she is staying since her own sister doesn't want her. Buddy finds, and pays, for an apartment for Mary and her son. It's clear that Buddy and Mary go from a friendship into a relationship that will change their lives forever.

The film works because the charismatic work of Michael Rispoli, who as Buddy, is a man with a heart of gold. Mr. Rispoli is an actor that is always good, no matter what character he plays. Also the movie has an inspired performance by Kelly MacDonald. Ms. MacDonald does good work as Mary. The supporting cast, Kartherine Narducci, Kevin Conway, Matt Servitto, Vincent Pastore, and the rest, are perfect.

We look forward future endeavors by Raymond DeFelitta, who proves with this film he can tell a story that involves the viewer in more ways than some others. "Two Family House" is a small movie, with a big heart!

Charming Look at Life After War Time in NYC

[noralee · 7/10 · 28 October 2005]

It seemed strange to see the decidedly outer-borough "Two Family House" at an expensive Manhattan movie theater, until during the opening credits two old ladies sat in front of me, put their coats on the two seats between them, and proceeded to loudly comment on the proceedings to each other throughout the whole movie.

Much like the friends of the protagonists do in this very sweet yet honest depiction of post-WWII life on Staten Island when an off-islander disrupts the quotidian.

While it drags a bit here and there, and the voice-over narration sometimes re-states the already visually obvious, the very New York characters (including one played by "Pussy" of "The Sopranos") are real people in real situations and realistic traps. This is less schmaltzy than Barry Levinson's Baltimore nostalgia-fests.

Filmed in Staten Island, Jersey City and Bayonne, the settings are accompanied by lovely period music by the John Pizzarelli Trio (who also does a cameo appearance as Julius LaRosa).

This is one of those small, charming indie movies that seems to be a labor of love, like a jewel of a short story.

(originally written 10/14/2000)

Love Conquers All

[gbheron · 7/10 · 28 August 2003]

Buddy's repressed. A young Italian-American man living in Staten Island in 1956, he sees opportunity all around him. It's laying there waiting for him to pick it up and run with. Except for one major obstacle, his wife Estelle. She wants only for Buddy to find his narrow niche in the local community, with its dead-end job and familiar surroundings, and exist quietly in her idea of the American dream.

But it's not Buddy's vision. So Buddy perseveres, undercut at every turn by Estelle. He finally manages to buy a two-family house to turn into his dream; a bar on the first floor, his home on the second. The current occupants are a foul-mouthed white trash Irish immigrant family, the very young wife in a very pregnant way. When she gives birth to a child whose father is obviously black, the older husband abandons her. And from this point Buddy's life journey takes a remarkable turn.

Two Family House is a prototypical Indie film in all its positive aspects. It does very well with little budget, maximizing the contributions of cast and crew. The uplifting story is told without pandering or exploitation. The movie's not great, but it is effective, and most importantly, very enjoyable.

Nice Sunday afternoon movie.

[mgchainsaw · 7/10 · 13 February 2006]

Well, football is over, so I caught this on an early Sunday evening watching HBO. Never heard of it, and I honestly don't know how I started watching it - just flipping around I guess and I heard an Irish accent, so I watched for a bit. Turned out to be a very good movie, not a great movie, but interesting nonetheless. Michael Rispoli wins you over with his Italian nice-guy performance, and Kelly MacDonald is wonderful (for some reason reminded me of Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful life). Really, this was just a slice of life picture with some characters that were interesting and compelling. I know this isn't a really great review I'm writing here - I guess I just want to say that if you come upon the movie, give it a chance. It's not going to change your life, but you'll probably talk about with anyone you see who happened to see it to, and that's always a good thing.

A great watched it on HBO Kind of movie

[b22bandit · 8/10 · 8 April 2002]

Late afternoon on a monday, flipping through my 8 chanels of HBO, I found this little number and feel all the richer for it. Good acting and genuine make a shoestring budget feel and slightly implausible plot fade into the recesses of your disbelief. A warm, poignant story about the kind of guy that we can all relate to.

Wonderful period piece and a gem of a sleeper; Rispoli gives a heart-felt performance that echoes Jackie Gleason

[george.schmidt · 29 April 2004]

TWO FAMILY HOUSE (2000) *** Michael Rispoli, Kelly Macdonald, Katherine Narducci, Kevin Conway, Matt Servitto, Michele Santopietro, Louis Guss, Rosemary DeAngelis, Anthony Arkin, Saul Stein, Vincent Pastore, John Pizzarelli. Rookie filmmaker Raymond De Felitta based this semi-autobiographical nostalgic romantic drama set in Staten Island circa 1956 on his beloved and well-intentioned late uncle with Rispoli as a working stiff who dreams of opening his own bar to sing in with no help from his totally unsupportive wife Narducci sending him into the unlikely arms of the unwed Irish mother of a biracial baby (the very pretty Macdonald) who is a tenant in their recently bought household.

Rispoli gives a heart-felt performance that echoes Jackie Gleason as a beaten upon husband who just wants something better and the rest of the ensemble adds some color to what could have been a retread of 'Moonstruck', its distant third cousin in theory.

Wonderful period piece and a gem of a sleeper.

Unexpected treasure

[linda-fox · 7/10 · 25 September 2005]

I like many things about this movie, not the least is a cast of nearly unknowns. Being from the western US, the community of Staten Island was completely unknown to me and a departure from the New York I've seen in depicted in most movies. I found the story, while not startlingly original, well told and the characters mostly believable. I reluctantly have to admit that some characters -- especially the fifties housewives -- are more stereotypical than I would have liked, comporting with most east coast Italian coming of age movies we all have seen.

I was delighted that the story stopped short of being maudlin while still telling a story with a moral about perseverance and risk taking. I think others will find the story to be believable and wonderful.

Great Movie

[jj112399 · 10/10 · 7 May 2004]

I just saw this movie on IFC and I loved it!! It has a great story line and the character were well developed and I could really relate to them. I'm glad I came across this, I hope to see it again soon. The story is well developed and I like how the ending turned out. I feel like it is another classic love story, and I'm not one to really like "mushy" films, but this is one is really a classic. I could just feel the main character and his dreams and wanting to 'break out'. I hope I can find the film on DVD or VHS. I like how the story touched on racial issues in the 1950's. I wonder if this is based on a book, because it has alot of focus on characters.

When Ethnic Caricatures Collide

[bburns · 6/10 · 9 January 2001]

I went to see "Two Family House" expecting an above average feel-good drama. Well, I guess two out of three ain't bad. The story itself wasn't bad, but the film relied too heavily on caricatures of Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans.

Buddy (Michael Rispoli) could have had a brilliant singing career, but his wife Estelle (Kathrine Narducci) forbade it. Ever since, she has thrown a wet blanket on any dream Buddy may have ever had. And if the dream doesn't fail on its own, she tries to sabotage it. Now Buddy wants to own his own two-family home and run a bar on the lower floor while living in the upstairs apartment, but there are a couple of problems. First, Estelle hates the house and the dreams that come with it. Second, the upstairs tenant is an alcoholic Irish immigrant (Kevin Conway) who refuses to leave. He also beats his pregnant wife Mary (Kelly McDonald).

Once we see that Mary is younger and prettier than we would expect and her husband taunts Buddy by saying "You want her, don't ye?" we know exactly how the rest of the film goes.

The only two characters in this film who aren't cartoons are Mary and her child (who narrates the film). Not only is the Irishman a filthy abusive drunk, but the Italian-American men are all good-natured lunkheads who sit around the bar saying "fagedaboudit" and the like. Given that the film is made by an Italian-American man, I suppose the latter is forgivable. What is *not* forgivable (from my point of view) is the portrayal of Italian-American women. All of them are shown as vicious and gossipy creatures whose only aim in life is to make their husbands suffer.

The film has its good points. If someone were to tell you the story in passing you'd probably think it was cute and sweet. And Kelly McDonald is a fine actress. But "Two Family House" could use a few more three-dimensional characters. 6 out of 10.

One of the BEST love stories I have ever seen. You will love the movie.

[worldclasssoccer · 10/10 · 1 December 2006]

People who talk about love and not act on it or show what it can do in this world of war and ignorance should watch this movie and learn from it. It takes a lot of inner strength to change the world for good and love is the fuel power that drives us to that change. I wish all of us can find that great power to love one another and change the path of hate to the path of love. Great movie and BIG thanks to all who made this movie possible. I wish we can have more great love stories happening in this world. Buddy is the main character who makes everything come together and I want to say that he was great man and people like that are bigger then life. Watch THE MOVIE.

A big little movie

[=G= · 7/10 · 13 January 2002]

"Two Family House" tells the story of a 1950's Staten Island man (Rispoli) who finds that the road from dreams to reality is paved with difficulty but leads to happiness. A cute little romantic comedy with a big heart, "TFH" makes some big points about the importance of being true to one's own conscience above all else as it spins its simple tale. Well received by critics, "TFH" is an enjoyable watch with a message for everyone mature enough for a mild R rating.

A wonderful sleeper you must see

[dwacon-2 · 10/10 · 5 October 2006]

I found this film by accident while programming my TIVO. The official description of the film didn't really relate with the story was all about.

This is fine however, as we don't want to spoil the wonderfully conceived character-based plot. The growth of the characters, and the realizations that they make in the third act, is stellar.

Overall, this film is a wonderful character piece that gives a glimpse of racial attitudes in the 1950's in New York (that don't seem so different from the attitudes in the 2000's).

The acting was superb and the pace of the plot was crisp. I highly recommend adding this to your TIVO play list.

As closing credits rolled, I thought that this is what an award-winning screenplay feels like -- and sadly that doesn't always translate into commercial success.

What is this all about anyway?

[paulcreeden · 5/10 · 10 January 2002]

I have heard a lot about this film. I remember it screening in our local "art" outlet. I remember it getting some notice in the award ceremonies of its time. What is this all about? I found the film genuinely offensive on two levels. First, the sentimentalization of the period with soft lighting and chummy relationships among the segregated gender groups, a la Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, was preposterous. It was preposterous when it was on TV too. "The Honeymooners" was always a more accurate portrayal of life in the 50's. Along with this insult to the intelligence of someone who actually lived in the 50's among the working immigrant classes in multifamily housing, I was subjected to the blatant class-conscious condescension of the writer, whom I see riding through L.A. in a white convertible German car. I found the film's handling of racism quite accurate. However, the message was made lame by the bumbling messenger. I think the people who made this film should get out more and talk to the people they are trying to portray, up close and personal.

Wonderfully written, a gem!

[shark-43 · 9/10 · 16 July 2001]

***POSSIBLE SPOLIER**

I remember reading good reviews for this little film but never got a chance to see it in the theatre. But we rented it recently and enjoyed it very much. Full of real characters with real emotions and real conflicts, the movie moves along at a nice pace with some real twists and surprises along the way. Terrific performances (especially from the lead - Michael Rispoli - who can be over the top at times in other films or just give wonderfully layered performances - like on the Sopranos or his work as a priest in The Third Miracle). I also really enjoyed how a fake Hollywood ending wasn't tacked on. If a BIG star had been in this or a HUGE studio had been behind it, they would have insisted that he become a BIG star at the end and sells millions of records. Nope, all that happens is he follows his heart and ends up happy and content. Pretty darned cool.

surprisingly good, nice sense of place

[kakajones2003 · 8/10 · 9 July 2006]

A good story, very ethnic, in that new york/Staten island, working class kind of way, circa 1950s.

I started watching this on HBO and sat through to the end. This is a story told by a narrator looking back on the unexpected events that lead up to his life. The characters are all very strong and believable, and you find yourself identifying with them, even if you didn't want to at first. Not a fast action flick, but easy to follow on a slow Sunday afternoon, which is what it was when i saw it. If you like nice narratives, gradual plot development, and sweet, unanticipated turns, this is a film to see.

The Challenge of Rising Above Ethnic Stereotypes

[protek22 · 10/10 · 19 March 2007]

This is a wonderful film, that deals with the challenges of ethnic stereotypes and the cultural biases that go with them. Stereotypes are a definite by-product of culture, yet for the most part, usually the worst expressions of a particular culture. In adhering to our birth culture we invariably absorb certain stereotypes, and biases, without even realizing it. People therefore become stereotypical to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon their independence of thought, and self-awareness. The less independent minded, or self aware we are, the more stereotypical we may become.

Two Family House is a very well-crafted drama, involving interactions between, an Italian couple, an Irish couple, and an anonymous African American man. The chain of events triggered by their interaction, gives birth to a beautiful love story involving the Italian husband of one couple, and the Irish wife and her child, of the other. Challenged by events that pushes them to the limits of their respective cultural sensibilities, the film portrays how these individuals for various reasons, either succumb to, or transcend, the biases, they were born into. The beauty of the movie is that it shows that through tremendous effort and resolve, it's quite possible to break free of cultural stereotypes, and the irrational hate, that invariably goes with them.

"All in the Family" But More Realistically

[lawprof · 10 November 2001]

This film produces laughs and sighs by presenting the very believable antagonism of two working class ethnic groups in what then was New York City's rural borough, Staten Island. As in life generally there isn't a happy ending for all involved in relationships that are jarred by the real bigotry directed against an Irish immigrant who bore a black child while married to a drunkard of the first water (or whiskey).

While Mary is clearly victimized, physically and psychologically, by her boorish Lushington of a husband the symbolic violence is the attitude of the Italian men and women who accept without thinking stereotypes of blacks and Irish. Their comfort in the supposed security of their shared little world was then and is now the hallmark of daily bias in America.

The acting is superb. So what if Mary is gorgeous and Buddy average (a safe euphemism). Gregory Peck in a working class Staten Island neighborhood you're not going to find (hmm, is THAT a stereotypical remark?).

Rent this film! It's terrific!!

The best movie of the year for me

[bobbobwhite · 9/10 · 22 March 2003]

I enjoyed this sensitive indy film about suburban NYC class, culture and race conflict much more than I thought I would, as its underlying goodness of heart won me over by the end. It freshly and uniquely tells the well-used old story that dreams can come true if you believe in them and yourself enough, work long and hard enough, and let the ignorant things go that are holding you back from success.

It showed that most people turn out pretty much the same if raised the same but can change for the better if they want to bad enough and are pained enough by their old life, and can end up caring about loyalty, love, and family just about the same as everyone else can with the best of intentions, even if they didn't know it at first.

Not just a terrific film, but a good morality story for us all.

Superb uplifting drama

[screenscribe123 · 10/10 · 25 November 2005]

This is one of the best movies I have seen -- in its quiet, understated way, it has made it to my top 10. The performances and direction is superb, the moral conflict depicted with great sensitivity. Most of all, this movie is very well written. It will either inspire you to become a screenwriter or if you are one, it will show you what great writing is all about. I am glad the producers saw the gold in the script, gathered the finances from several sponsors (see the list at the end of the movie) and "walked the walk" in bringing this elegant story to the screen. Put it on your netflix list and bump it to the top of your list! It'll show you how movies ought to be made.

Touching, believable, not a false step in the film.

[jamesandrews · 10/10 · 6 April 2001]

A touching and totally believable film about average people in a difficult situation. High marks for all the actors, and particularly the two main leads: a man doing all he can to follow his dream, and a young mother he meets, and eventually falls in love with. For me, not a false step anywhere in the film.

A touch of pathos

[kayfabe · 24 February 2002]

The most wonderful thing about nostalgia, is the pathos. I didn't watch this film with the belief that "This was the way things were"--rather, I enjoyed the story of Everyman: The wide eyed dreamer with little chance of success. A man whose comfort zone included failure-he was happy with: "I could have been..."

I like misty-eyed forays into Post War America- my childhood was directly shaped by this era. I realize that people were only so different, but the "way of life" was drastically different- Maybe thats what makes nostalgia so attractive: The loss of youth.

At one time small stories on film were common-nowadays we only get to see them on the indy film award circuit. Unfortunately that in itself has come to imply "Great Film"...How about "good film". Would people then watch it to enjoy, instead of honor?

A sweet modest film like the characters in it

[ss3 · 10/10 · 1 October 2004]

This is a fine movie, by a talented artist. The music, the photography, but especially the story are of one piece. Ray Defelitta could have jazzed it up but wisely stayed within the characters and the spirit of his script. He makes it seem so easy. I don't know what to make of it taking 5 years for his next movie to be made, except this business is absurd. I hope he doesn't ever lose what he has here, a place that is fully realized and characters who breathe real air and have real emotions. The acting is extraordinary. The movie kind of reminds me of De Capra. I can't wait for his next film and boy it would be so nice if it was a commercial success. Or am I living in dreamland. We will see.

Worth it

[Ed-90 · 9/10 · 26 November 2000]

Hey, I'm from Brooklyn, circa 1956, and loved dat filum...the only things that got me was Buddy's diction, which was at times too polished...he said "her" instead of "huh" for instance, over and again, and the heavy-handed portrayal of racism of the heavily-stereotyped Italian and Irish immigrants...even uneducated men didn't spout racist remarks so publicly either inside the bar or on the street...they may have felt it, but those kinds of public displays are more of the 1980's than 1956...aside from minor incongruities, I enjoyed the film, impressed by the powerful portrayal of lives & feelings of the NYC working class...nice work, all...I cried for half the movie, wanting Buddy and Mary to fall for each other...

I loved this movie

[madmad · 19 December 2000]

I was a young girl in New York around the time portrayed in this movie. I didn't live in Staten Island, but where I came from wasn't so different. I knew these people, I went to high school with them, I heard them talking in bars, etc. The characters are right on, even if they are perhaps just a bit exaggerated for dramatic effect. Yes, racism like that expressed in the movie was (and probably is) endemic. Yes, people who wanted to break out of the mold were viewed as "throwing their whole lives away." I loved that Buddy was able to escape. I also loved the character of his wife, who was painful to watch. Go see this movie. It is everything movies should be. Great story, great acting, a soundtrack that complements the action without intruding. It's like a wonderful home-cooked meal, nothing fancy but it stays with you. And a return comment to the guy who said it was hackneyed: Hey, there are no new stories, only old ones retold and retold. It's how you do it that makes a movie or a play. Even Shakespeare stole his plots from someplace else!

First-rate moviemaking and a wonderful story.

[amolad · 10/10 · 18 December 2000]

Certainly one of the best movies of 2000, if not THE best, in an otherwise horrendous year for movies. Extremely visual storytelling combined with an affecting romance and warm humor, beautifully acted by all involved. Too often in romances -- or any movie for that matter -- one doesn't get a sense of anything real or important at stake. Not so in TWO FAMILY HOUSE. It's precisely because the two main characters have so much at stake, and are willing to take enormous risks, that they are attracted to one another and we desperately want them to be together.

An excellent little movie -- the kind of picture which Hollywood should be turning out regularly but which is all too rare.