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The Yards

The Yards

Crime · Drama · Thriller · 2000

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts.

Movie details

The Yards

“He's the target of the most merciless family in New York. His own.”

2000 Crime · Drama · Thriller 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Yards?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

James Gray

Written by

James Gray · Matt Reeves

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg

Leo Handler

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

Willie Gutierrez

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron

Erica Soltz

James Caan

James Caan

Frank Olchin

Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn

Val Handler

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway

Kitty Olchin

Steve Lawrence

Steve Lawrence

Arthur Mydanick

Court is in session

Put The Yards on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.