Set in New York's Lower East Side,
Robert De Niro plays Walt Koontz, an ultraconservative, retired security guard who suffers a stroke while trying to help a neighbour in trouble. He ends up with paralyzed vocal cords and in turn refuses to leave his apartment for therapy.
He then agrees to a rehabilitive program that includes receiving singing lessons from his neighbor Rusty (Phillip S. Hoffman) who not only dresses like a woman but is saving up for a sex-change operation. Both of them are equally prejudiced; Walt against gays and Rusty against close-minded straight people.
Beyond brilliant ... Mr. Hoffman broke my heart yet once again. DeNiro`s stroke is laboured, "acted," but Hoffman`s drag queen is real and true to any queen I`ve known. His `maternal` instinct especially touches me, as a woman and a friend to many gay men. My parents forwarded this video to me ... how did I miss it in the theatres??
I thought it showed the strong acting talent of both actors. Very enjoyable and thought provoking.
I thought it managed a difficult balance between overdone/camp and sensitive. Lovely sense of humour, and scenes that might not necessarily make narrative sense but were absolutely marvellous!