Steel City

After a tragic accident caused by the truck of the middle-aged Carl Lee (John Heard) where a woman dies with a crushed stern, he is arrested and sent to the county jail. His son PJ (Thomas Guiry), who works washing dishes... Full review

I thought that Brian Jun's "Steel City" ran a little long, but still came out worth seeing. Focusing on a young man (Tom Guiry) and his brother having to deal with their father's (John Heard) imprisonment, the movie probably could have... Full review

Steel City is one of those low-budget movies that makes for satisfying Sundance fare despite lacking the necessary ingredients for broader box-office success. It's the story of a dysfunctional family in a small town in Illinois, centering around 20-year-old PJ (Tom... Full review

I can't remember seeing such a heartfelt depiction of blue collar America since The Last Picture Show. It's a story that spoke very personally to me-- a very simple story about fathers and sons. And the crumbling life of one young... Full review

Writer/director/editor Brian Jun obviously has a lot of affection for the denizens of this nowhere Southern Illinois burg, but, unfortunately, that affection does not translate into viewer interest. Heard is crusty to a fault as a dad who commits the ultimate parental sacrifice in a script twist that rings especially hoary, and Raymond J. Barry must be singled out for a really terrible, pushy performance as helpful Uncle Vic. ... Full Review

Uninflected to the point of banality, "Steel City" also loves its characters with an honest, absolutely level gaze. Everyone carries a heavy slab of atonement in "Steel City ," a no-budget heartland drama that walks the thin line between kitchen-sink realism and kitchen-sink tedium. ... Full Review

As Jun is increasingly lauded as a hometown hero, "Steel City" will shine as a reminder of the real hometown. By Joe Williams POST-DISPATCH FILM CRITIC 06/22/2007 "Steel City" doesn't need to show us the faraway Gateway Arch to evoke the thwarted dreams on the other side of the river. ... Full Review

There's a palpable sense of frustration among the primary characters as they wonder whether this is all there is, and whether they can be happy with it anyway. The emotional stakes are high and every character is at risk in this piercing, respectable blue-collar drama. ... Full Review

Luckily, Jun doesnt permit the camera to get in the way of his actors who are the strongest element in "Steel City. Barry is excellent in his supporting role as well; bringing the most gravitas of anybody in the cast. ... Full Review

May 25, 2007 E XCELLENT performances by a good cast and a fairly authentic look at working-class struggles go only so far in Brian Jun's "Steel City," which paints an industrial Minnesota municipality entirely in tones of gray and blue. ... Full Article

nnovation isn't the province of Steel City , which is comprised of basic Sundance cinema elements: a chilly working-class milieu shot in somber hues, a damaged, mixed-up protagonist beset by familial and romantic dilemmas, and solemn montages set to Spartan... ... Full Article

Sometimes only the words of another critic will suffice: James Greenberg in The Hollywood Reporter called this 2006 Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee the visual equivalent of a Bruce Springsteen song, and nothing I could come up with could top... ... Full Article

Tom Guiry and America Ferrera in "Steel City." (Credit: Truly Indie) Steel City Running time: 96 minutes Rated: R Cast: John Heard - Carl Lee Thomas Guiry - PJ Lee America Ferrera - Amy Barnes Clayne Crawford - Ben Lee... ... Full Article

Reviewed by Tasha Robinson June 15th, 2007 In a way, the car crash at the heart of Steel City is the dog that didn't bark: Frequently alluded to and responsible for much of the narrative, it's never glimpsed, never even... ... Full Article