Somber and homey, Heavy lays bare attraction and self-image and creates a character-driven story in the rainy expanse of the Hudson Valley. The dingy roadside saloon and pizza joint, Pete and Dolly’s, is named after the late Pete and Dolly Modino (Shelley Winters). Their overweight son, Victor (Pruitt Taylor Vince) makes pizzas (which he hates) and mostly keeps to himself in the back of the establishment. The young and beautiful (and inexperienced) Callie (Liv Taylor) is a Syracuse dropout whose hiring Delores (Debbie Harry) takes as a personal slight. Victor takes an instant liking to Callie, who seems to like him back, at least in a friendly manner. However, somehow, every single woman in the movie has an attraction to Victor that belies the pitiful front he presents and is a detriment to the plot. If every girl (even the cute checkout girl (Marian Quinn)) likes Victor, why is he so despondent? Moreover, why does Victor see a “dead” version of Callie at random times? This was a superfluous artsy move. That being said, Vince frequently does this rapid eye movement that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It was the perfect amount of weirdness that fit the drab surroundings. Mangold’s first film feels exactly like a “first film” from a director who would go on to direct movies like Logan and Ford v. Ferrari, and Indiana Jones and the something something something. It’s askew and affecting, but missing the thrust of the weight it’s going for.

Horrible movie. I truly wish I could erase it from my memory.

An example of terrific casting. Deborah Harry was perfectly cast as the worn down mature woman looking for love but looking in all the wrong places. Under stated for sure but vivid and raw. A simple story about people interacting but not connecting each with their shields up for defense. Most watching could empathize with some element of one of the characters. The pros rate it high no doubt based on quality. The audience not as enthusiastic and you can see why. No murders, no action, no chase scenes, huge stars or high drama. More an introspective persons type of movie in the old school tradition. Watched it right through and was bored for a minute.

I found it lame and condescending.

A dramatic story well written & acted, especially by Pruitt Taylor Vince. We learn who each of the characters truly are and what the main character is about to become.

This movie is quietly stunning with beautiful performances portraying kindness and compassion. Acting is phenomenal, and I think it was ahead of its time. I never watched it when it was released so I'm just now enjoying it.

Spoilers: Liv is luminously sweet, she of the coming of age, what's it all about Alfie. Debbie is a real beauty and plays a rough waitress, digging in on her turf and suspicious of Liv and others, as she loves men's attention enough to give herself indiscriminately. Shelley, the old pro, who usually plays a firecracker with a mouth as here. But the gem is Vince, who if anyone in the world was, was made for this role. This is: a man does not live by bread alone and being a short-order cook at Mom's bar-and-eat, but needs some form of love and fulfillment. He's a nice guy to people, quiet, something of a stunted child in a man's body surrounded in his room by baseball cards and a famous poster of Farrah Fawcett. I would have rated this higher but it seemed to drag in spots, though it wasn't that long a movie. Vince is letting his conception of himself, as an overweight, heading for middle age shlub, in a going nowhere job and lifestyle, color his conception of how others see him. Others-oriented Liv saw a wonderful guy and made him feel great by just "seeing" him; his crush on her and fear of hurting her made him lie to her about how he got a photo of her hanging on his home refrigerator. He and mom live in a rundown house beside a rundown tractor-trailer, a haunting remnant of an absent father. He's too nice to others to be the noble savage. But he sees change in the air, as he starts trying to lose weight and on the human race's proclivity for finding and seizing and giving love. Mom dies, and he shuts down so much, not wanting overall things to change out of fear, that he doesn't tell the bar players she is gone. At the end, he looks cleaned up, a bit slimmer and flirting with the cashier where he always buys his food, as Liv has moved on and an impossible jointure with her remains just a dream, though he is OK with that. This has the big enchalada in it: Who are we, what should we be doing, can we thrive without some form of love fulfillment? This applies to kings, presidents, princesses and this assortment of lower socio-economic sorts struggling with how to get through the day not just with a meal and a drink, but also with a smile. The cute little dog gets 5 stars for being seemingly more anticipatory and wise than the people!

Director James Mangold of 'Wolverine' and 'Logan' fame helms one of his earliest pictures offering a look on loneliness, self-worth, unrequited love, and false hope Pruitt Taylor Vince is Victor, an overweight man still living with Shelly Winters as his mother working at her diner, she's in poor health and spends a majority of her time immobile Her husband also slept with one of her friends years ago Victors life is empty and unfulfilled because he is heavy and feels less accomplished That is until a new waitress, Liv Tyler as Callie who is a Syracuse college dropout comes into the mix Victor starts feeling hopeful she's there falling in love even though she already has a boyfriend The title is not just about this man's weight but also how much his life is weighing down on him Plus the many emotions create some big effects on people, a lot of them not easy to deal with We've all been in these kind of stagnant places in our lives; the waitress with secrets, the drunk at the bar on a daily basis, and the cook who's experiencing a punishment rather than enjoying serving to customers James Mangold still hits some deep emotional cuts that most of us try to ignore but ultimately have to face one day This will be slow for lots of people but an affecting piece all the same

James Mangold's official debut is a slow-burning and aching character study that somehow, with it's limitations, entertains down to the very last frame.

I never heard of this movie until reading Debbie Harry's auto-bio, "Face It". What an excellent movie. I don't know why it's not more well known.

An interesting piece about a cook who would like to lose weight and fantasizes about having a girlfriend, Sad at times, but we get the feeling that he is able to finally pull his life together. You'll be able to watch it to the end.

The important thing is not to look down yourself.

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo slow

Low-key character study about a shy, over weight cook who falls for a perky waitree. Mangold really captures small-town loneliness. A great film.

The last great bar film before cell phones.

James Mangold's first feature film, Heavy is a beautifully visual film from start to finish, with most of the emotion internalised and such a introvert protagonist, he still managed to explore loneliness and solitude quite well, very well directed, acted and established him as a serious drama director. Ashamed not many people know this film.

中文名好似係"生命叫我太沉重",好似大學時去電影節睇

Pretty well done for an indie feature. James Mangold captures emotions well enough. The feelings of loss were effective and emphasized. The exchange between Pruitt Taylor Vince and David Patrick Kelly was beautiful. Liv Tyler was okay. She acts cute in some scenes.. But it's not about her. So all you horndogs out there will be disappointed. And I laugh at your pathetic waste of time.

It's a nice little indie movie with a lot of interesting twists an turns for a simple story. It's a very well acted, Pruitt plays the lonesome antisocial very well. Surprised that a film that looks like it was shot on a VERY LOW budget had alot of top people in it. I found this movie in Surrey one time at a used video store, regretted not getting it then but when I seen it downtown at another use video store I figured why not, glad I did.

For all the promotional featuring of Liv Tyler, the focus is really on Victor (Pruitt Taylor Vince); one of the little people, bypassed by life. A sensitive, subtle movie, a little difficult to watch but well worth it.