Despite going to the cinema two, sometimes three, times a week in the 1980s, I have no recollection of Five Corners.
The 1987 film, which stars Jodie Foster, Tim Robbins, John Turturro, and Todd Graff, spans roughly two days around a few blocks in the Bronx in 1964.
It’s a curious film. Directed by Tony Bill, Five Corners is set in a stylized New York populated by quirky, yet stereotypical, characters. It’s humorous one minute and dark the next — as well as darkly humorous at times.
Turturro is particularly outstanding as the sociopathic Heinz, who’s just gotten out of prison for the attempted rape of Linda (Foster) and returned to the neighborhood still obsessed with her. He’s backed by solid performances by Foster, Graff (who plays her boyfriend, Jamie), and Robbins (her pacifist protector, Harry).
This is one of those movies that teeters between brilliance and ordinary. Three days after watching it, I still don’t think it tilts toward brilliance. The story moves along, keeping its focus on the main characters, but also touching — but not delving too deeply — into the civil-rights movement of the period. Five Corners is more of a snapshot taken during the 1960s. It offers a glimpse of that time, tells a small story, but lacks depth, despite trying for it.
I can understand why Five Corners might not have made it to a screen near me at the time. It was overshadowed a few months later when Foster would star in The Accused, for which she would win her first Academy Award.
Five Corners is a gem in the rough that’s definitely worth watching.