Unstrung Heroes [Blu-ray]

Director: Diane Keaton Diane Keaton

Overview

Diane Keaton made her directorial debut with this drama, adapted from the autobiographical novel of sportswriter Franz Lidz. Lidz's story was set in his New York childhood and told of how living with his four eccentric uncles helped him overcome his grief at the death of his beloved mother. The movie is set in southern California and the four uncles from the novel have been whittled down to two. Lidz was christened Steven (Nathan Watt) and he is raised by the luminous Selma (Andie McDowell) and Sid (John Turturro), his father. When Selma is taken ill, Sid keeps Steven and his sister out of her bedroom, fearing they will upset her. Sid is an ingenious but cool-hearted inventor whose head is more developed than his heart. He sends Steven off to live with his two brothers. Danny (Michael Richards) is a high-spirited, paranoid man who suffers from delusions. Arthur (Maury Chaykin) is a big-hearted guy who likes to collect other people's junk. Together they rename the child Franz and teach him to value his own uniqueness.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/02/2019
UPC:	0738329234133
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:33:00
Sales rank:	37,569

Special Features

Interview with star Andie MacDowell ; Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Andie MacDowell	Selma Lidz
John Turturro	Sid Lidz
Michael Richards	Danny Lidz
Maury Chaykin	Arthur Lidz
Nathan Watt	Steven
Kendra Krull	Sandy Lidz
Joey Andrews	Ash
Celia Weston	Amelia
Jack McGee	Lindquist
Candice Azzara	Joanie
Anne DeSalvo	May
Lillian Adams	Aunt Estelle
Lou Cutell	Uncle Melvin
Sumer Stamper	Nancy Oppenheim
Sean P. Donahue	Ralph Crispi
Harold M. Schulweis	Rabbi Blaustein
Zoaunne LeRoy	Mrs. Kantruitz
Vince Melocchi	Inspector Marshall
Charles Patrick	In-Crowd Boy
Alison Chalmers	In-Crowd Girl
Chris Warfield	Mr. Clements
Wayne Duvall	Mr. Crispi
Andrew Craig	Man in Line
Becky Ann Baker	Mrs. Harris
Mary Mercier	Waitress
Len Costanza	Second Doctor
Peter Kaitlyn	Dr. Feldman
Julie Pinson	Nurse Franklin
Thomas Newman	Composer

Technical Credits

Diane Keaton	Director
Susan Arnold	Producer
William Badalato	Producer
Fred Lerner	Stunts
Gail Levin	Casting
Ernie Orsatti	Stunts
Donna Roth	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Diane Keaton's first effort as a director is an impressively lyrical tragicomedy about a young boy growing up in an eccentric family. When the mother (Andie MacDowell) of 12-year-old Steven (Nathan Watt) is diagnosed with cancer, his nutty inventor father (John Turturro) is so deeply affected, his son can no longer reach him. The boy decides to go live with his even more eccentric uncles (Michael Richards and Maury Chaykin) in a fleabag hotel. Keaton skillfully balances humor and pathos of these lives, charting the reactions of a bright kid who wonders how he wound up in such a strange menagerie. The characters are well developed, and Keaton makes the love that exists between them so clear that, along with the boy, one begins to realize that the emotional support one needs can sometimes come from the strangest places. The performances are uniformly excellent, including a very unmannered and persuasive performance from Nathan Watt. Keaton, who has long had a reputation as a still photographer, displays a keen eye for the telling detail.