Next Stop, Greenwich Village

source: Next Stop, Greenwich Village

Trailer—Next Stop, Greenwich Village

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

The endearing qualities of the characters seem very true to the time to me. I grew up in the 50's, and the scenes of his neighborhood were a wonderful backdrop for the times. The family, the friends, and the events that happen are believable and at times most amusing. Shelly Winters is always outstanding and she delivers in her role as the lead character's Mother. The character of Sarah is very beautiful, although by today's standards both of the young characters would not be cast. Not because they lack character, but because they seem like real people, not Hollywood clones.It was a different world as far as social mores and this glimpse into the heart of a young actor dealing with life through humor and love was most enjoyable.

The previous reviewer said that "Next Stop, Greenwich Village" was one of the last chances to show Greenwich Village in its original form before it got gentrified. I have to admit that I wouldn't have known that. But whether or not one knows that, the movie is still fairly enjoyable, as a young man (Lenny Baker; happy birthday, Lenny!) moves to the area hoping to make something of himself. I will say that it seems sort of like Paul Mazursky made the movie more to please himself than anything else, as the movie drags at times. But overall, it's a pretty enjoyable flick. Also starring Shelley Winters, Ellen Greene, Lois Smith, Christopher Walken, Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear on "Starsky and Hutch"), Lou Jacobi and Jeff Goldblum.

Paul Mazursky's wonderful ode to struggling actors in 1953 New York. It's not exactly a comedy and not exactly a drama, but a mix of both. Lenny Baker is Larry Lipinsky, a Brooklyn transplant living the bohemian life Greenwich Village. Shelley Winters (in an utterly outrageous performance) is his suffocating mother. The movie is populated with one eccentric character after another from Christopher Walken's pretentious poet to Antonio Fargas's flamboyant dandy to Lois Smith's tragic depressant. The movie is very flavorful and extremely well acted. Baker, who died less than ten years later, gives what should have been a career making performance. Jeff Goldblum pops up as an extremely ridiculous actor. Somehow this film is largely forgotten --- it's a real buried treasure.

I stumbled on this film on USA last night, about 15 minutes in. It was alternately comedic and touching, with Lenny Baker playing a 20-something (Larry Lapinsky) in Greenwich Village in the '50s. Shelley Winter played his mother, who had a knack for showing up at the most inopportune moments and embarrassing her son. Both of them, along with Mike Kellin as Mr. Lapinsky, give excellent nuanced performances. The central action of the movie is around Larry's attempts to become an actor, and around his friends in the village. The dialog is generally snappy and both dialog and visuals can be out-loud funny at times. 7/10.

I'm with the room, this film has been sadly overlooked as it was at the time of it's release (even Mazursky champion Pauline Kael was Luke warm) and deserves to be seen. I think this sort of autobiographical film had sort of been overdone, so Mazurky's film was lumped in as "one of those." What was missed, I think, was his unsentimental, adult perspective on the time and place, on what it meant to be young and bright. He gives us something of what the beak nick world might have been like, unlike the silly portrayals done AT THE TIME. Lenny Baker, in his only major lead, is excellent along with the entire cast. Christopher Walken makes an impression without the hamming that would later endear him to so many.

I felt like this is what life must truly have been like in the Village in '53. Everything was in order. I was transported. Special kudos go out to Antonio Fargas, who plays a gay man in a tremendously ballsy portrayal considering his Starsky and Hutch days. Also, to the great chemistry of the cast. It was sad to see Lenny Baker passed away at such a young age. He was definitely in the Hoffman, Pacino, but funnier mold. He should be remembered.

This is a bittersweet film about family, leaving "the nest", friendships, dreams, hope, & finding yourself. A young man from Brooklyn leaves home to become an actor in 1950's Greenwich Village. Lenny Baker is very good as Larry Lapinsky & Ellen Green is wonderful as his girlfriend. The quirky characters & situations around them add an ambiance to this movie that makes you believe it was filmed in the 1950's, & not the 70's, when it was actually made. A lot of attention was paid to detail & it shows. Shelly Winters is loud, obnoxious, funny & convincing as the typical Jewish mother (I love the scene when she shows up at his apartment with a chicken). This movie makes you wish you could jump into the film & sit with these characters, have coffee with them, ride the subway, go to one of Larry's rent parties & experience the progressive, offbeat world of New York's Greenwich Village in the 1950's.