Diner

Barry Levinson (1982)

105min

AA Certificate

Review

Our Score

by John Ferguson

This gentle, warm-hearted comedy drama about a group of young men in 1950s Baltimore was director Barry Levinson's debut feature and it remains among his finest work. It's a sympathetic portrait of youth on the threshold of adulthood that's episodic in structure, but not just nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. It also happens to be rather funny. In addition, Levinson shows a remarkable eye for talent - at the time, most of the performers were far from being household names; Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Kevin Bacon, Daniel Stern and Paul Reiser all boosted their careers after appearing in this movie.

Summary

Four students try to stave off growing up for as long as possible. The gang consists of Billy, who is in love with a girl friend, Eddie who is nervously preparing to get married, womanising gambler Boogie, and Shrevie, whose obsessive devotion to his record collection drives his wife to distraction. Coming-of-age drama, starring Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern, Timothy Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser and Kevin Bacon.