Toronto Film Festival Dailies

 NEW YORK CITY SERENADE

Thursday, August 30--------Frank Whaley, an acclaimed actor best known for his work in the films SWIMMING WITH SHARKS and PULP FICTION, has been adding directorial chores to his list of credits in the past few years. With such well regarded films as JOE THE KING and THE JIMMY SHOW, Whaley is making the leap from actor to director. He continues on this journey with the Toronto premiere of his latest film, NEW YORK CITY SERENADE.

The film stars Chris Klein, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Wallace Shawn, in a tale of lifelong friends and the series of events that lead to their final farewell. Two down on their luck childhood friends struggle to figure out their lives. Ray, a drummer in a rock and roll band, and Owen, an aspiring film maker spend most of their time working menial jobs and drinking. When Owen's fiancé Lynn breaks off their engagement he finds himself spiraling, and allows Ray to come along with him to a two bit film festival he has been invited to in Kansas. There Owen makes several attempts to patch up his relationship, while Ray scams them into a deluxe suite at the local Four Seasons hotel by posing as Wally Shawn's son (who happens to be receiving a lifetime achievement award) and generally causes a major ruckus. By the end, Owen decides to make some changes in their relationship and in his life.

This simply told, surprising and emotional film is made in the tradition of such humanist directors as  Mike Leigh, Paul Mazursky and Ken Loach. It further establishes Frank Whaley as a prodigious director of actors, who knows how to tell a riveting human story without compromise, with humanity and heart.

Sandy Mandelberger, Toronto FF Dailies Editor