Jimmy Breslin Movies

Frequently compared to Larry Flynt and Lenny Bruce for his tireless First Amendment battles, New York smut icon and Screw Magazine publisher Al Goldstein turns a would-be harassment charge into a full-blown media circus in filmmaker James Guardino's incendiary account of the trial that dragged on for two grueling years. As the ultra-sensationalist and shockingly self-destructive Goldstein fights for free speech by launching an all-out press and TV campaign, the shameless headline-grabber's desperate quest to remain in the spotlight following the final episode of the salacious Midnight Blue program may just backfire on him in ways he never imagined. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director Joseph Blasioli documents one of the most memorable fights in boxing history in the documentary The Last Round: Chuvalo Vs. Ali. The memorable fight featured the underdog Chuvalo going a full fifteen rounds with the heavily favored champion - considered by many the greatest heavyweight in the sport's history. In addition to archival footage, the film employs interviews with many people who were involved with the fight including Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee, boxing expert Bert Sugar, and columnist Jimmy Breslin. The film also features clips of other famous fights these boxers had against such other famous names as Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

In the summer of 1977, a serial killer who called himself Son of Sam (real name David Berkowitz) held New York City in terror as he went on a killing spree, periodically writing letters to New York's media in which he took full responsibility for the murders and made clear that he intended to kill again. Spike Lee's Summer of Sam deals in part with this crime spree, but it mostly looks back at the fearful impact of his crimes on New York's collective consciousness. Vinny and Dionna (John Leguizamo and Mira Sorvino) are an unhappy young married couple living in the Bronx; Vinny often cheats on Dionna but is wracked with guilt about it, while Dionna fears she lacks the looks or allure to hold onto a man. Ritchie (Adrien Brody) is a neighborhood kid turned punk rocker (complete with a fake British accent); he has a band and a girlfriend (Jennifer Esposito) but also makes money as an exotic dancer at a gay club. And Luigi (Ben Gazzara), a longtime leader of organized crime in the Bronx, is approached by the police, with whom he generally has a less cordial relationship, to help them find the killer, as the citizens of some neighborhoods barricade their streets in fear that he will strike there next. Meanwhile, a tortured psychopath named David Berkowitz (Michael Badalucco) seethes with rage in his gloomy apartment and receives messages from a demonic dog who commands him to kill and kill again. Spike Lee's first film without a primarily African-American cast (though bearing the unmistakable New York stamp that's one of his hallmarks), Summer of Sam was shown as part of the Directors Fortnight series at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Based on a story by Jimmy Breslin, The Neighborhood takes place in an all-white, blue collar neighborhood in an unspecified big city. A "blockbuster" real estate agent begins selling houses to black families (among the new neighbors is recent Oscar nominee Howard Rollins Jr.), resulting in mixed emotions (most of them leaning towards hostility) from the white residents. There are isolated incidents of terrorism, including a burning cross, before wiser heads prevail and the neighbors learn to live together in harmony. The nicer white residents include Christine Belford and Ron Masak, playing the sort of altruistic types that seem to exist exclusively in TV movies. The contrived upbeat ending of The Neighborhood is a sure giveaway that the film was intended as the pilot for a weekly series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bob Morrison (Joe Brooks) composes jingles on Madison Avenue for television ads. He has carried a torch for Jennifer Corly (Shelley Hack) since their college days, so that when he meets her again, he is compelled once again to try to woo her. Look for columnist/author Jimmy Breslin's surprisingly good performance in a cameo role. Songs in this musical include "If Ever I See You Again". Producer/director/screenwriter/songwriter/actor Joe Brooks is best known for his hit song "You Light Up My Life". ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi