Liberty Heights

Play trailer

Liberty Heights

R

1999

2h 7m

Comedy

Drama

Music

Romance

Crime

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A moving film with moments of humor, Liberty Heights succeeds in capturing the feel of the '50s with great performances and sensitive direction.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 6, 2018

By focusing on such a specific milieu, he keeps the genre alive with his great ear for small talk, an elegant eye and a warm, forgiving heart. This is nostalgia bottled and aged with care.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/5

Offers a deeper immersion in that old '50s feeling than any other Hollywood film in recent memory.

Go to Full Review

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/4

Touching and frequently hilarious.

Go to Full Review

Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

Jun 5, 2024

This coming-of-age drama manages to explore the racial politics of 1950s America, while maintaining a lightness that keeps it accessible and a welcome addition to the genre.

Go to Full Review

Andy Greenwald

Spin

Dec 28, 2022

Liberty Heights is yet another entry in that most Vaseline-smeared of all film genres -- Jewish family learns life lessons in post-WWII America -- but one with a low-key charm.

Go to Full Review

Armond White

New York Press

Jun 28, 2019

It's atrocious. Twisted sociology.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad Oct 11, 2026

Liberty Heights is a *4* star Movie!

See more

steve d

@RT35616104 Jul 4, 2020

somewhat entertaining but the script is nothing special.

See more

nefasto r

@Nefasto Apr 10, 2018

It's a very likable Jewish/Coming of age story. Very likable because all the characters are smart and well written, because there is good 50s music all over the movie, because coming of age usually are. The problem, if anything, is that is too likable! I mean, when the dramatic parts come through the end, they are not very dramatic at all! It ss like they have been sprinkled over with a some "Disney" powder! They miss some mordant! Even the bad guys are good people! That is why for me is not a great movie, but still a very enjoyable one.

See more

Feb 22, 2015

This was a pretty good movie, but it needed something more to make it great. I liked it, but I did not love it. The best parts of this movie were the scenes with Ben and Sylvia; they really brought the film to life.

See more

Jul 14, 2014

Perhaps Levinson's last hurrah, 'Heights' is sweet, understated and even cheeky. Of course, aside from a great cast of charismatic youngsters, the film pulls off a fine balancing act of teen romance with statements about social and racial affairs of the time.

See more

Jul 12, 2014

always a good way to spend the night throwback

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Barry Levinson

Director

Adrien Brody

Van Kurtzman

Ben Foster

Ben Kurtzman

Orlando Jones

Little Melvin

Bebe Neuwirth

Ada Kurtzman

Joe Mantegna

Nate Kurtzman

Begin Again

83%

81%

Begin Again

Watchlist

Secretary

78%

82%

Secretary

Watchlist

Shopgirl

61%

58%

Shopgirl

Watchlist

Almost Famous

91%

92%

Almost Famous

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Almost Famous

The Upside of Anger

74%

63%

The Upside of Anger

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben (Ben Foster) completes high school, he falls for Sylvia (Rebekah Johnson), a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van (Adrien Brody), attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman and their father (Joe Mantegna) tries to maintain his burlesque business.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Baltimore Pictures, Spring Creek Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings