Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five

Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five

Movie Poster
Directed by Richard Schenkman
Produced by Jon Cryer
Written by
  • Jon Cryer
  • Richard Schenkman
Starring
Music by Midge Ure
Cinematography Adam Beckman
Edited by Richard LaBrie
Production
company
Evenmore Entertainment
Release dates
  • April 18, 1998 (1998-04-18) (US)
Running time
 94 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $14,090 (US)[1]

Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five is a 1998 American film directed by Richard Schenkman and written by Schenkman and Jon Cryer. It premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival.[2]

Plot

Daniel (Jon Cryer) and Stan (Rick Stear) search for a childhood friend of theirs - Richie (Rafael Báez), who they believe may be homeless and mentally ill. The film intercuts with flashbacks from their youth to their 30s. Daniel works at a jewelry store that is basically a pawn shop. Stan, who limps as a result of a childhood medical procedure, is a borderline alcoholic and gambler who fights endlessly with his longtime girlfriend, Gabby (Ione Skye).

Principal cast

Actor Role
Jon Cryer Daniel
Rick Stear Stan
Rafael Báez Richie
Ione Skye Gabby
Frank Whaley Skee-Ball Weasel
Aesha Waks Cindy Goldclang
Dominic Chianese Mickey

Production

The title has its origin in a note that Cryer left for his girlfriend after going to look for a former classmate who he heard had become homeless and was living in Coney Island.[2]

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes reports that 43% of seven surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 5.4/10.[3] A.O. Scott of The New York Times gave it a mixed review and wrote,"Went to Coney Island never quite comes to dramatic or comic life."[4] Emanuel Levy of Variety wrote that Cryer, Baez, and Stear "give proficient performances that serve the material well, though they can't elevate it to the poignancy and depth intended by the director".[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it a "deeply felt, engaging little film" that will stick with audiences after it ends.[6]

It won the audience award at the Austin Film Festival.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… (2000)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  2. 1 2 Beck, Marilyn; Smith, Stacy Jenel (1998-03-31). "CRYER'S DETERMINATION MAKES FOR HAPPY `CONEY ISLAND' ENDING.(L.A. LIFE)". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 2016-03-22 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  3. ↑ "Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God...Be Back by Five (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  4. ↑ Scott, A. O. (2000-09-08). "Went to Coney Island on a Mission From God Be Back by Five (1998)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  5. ↑ Levy, Emanuel (1998-04-27). "Review: 'Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God ... Be Back by Five'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (2000-09-15). "'Went to Coney Island" Is a Touching Tale of Friends". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  7. ↑ "Jon Cryer: Actor, writer, producer, 'Duckie'". CNN. 1998-10-09. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
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