Considering the money this film cost to make, its short shooting schedule, and its unpandering ethnic content, it's a triumph.

| Jun 7, 2014

A promising debut that makes us anticipate this Columbia University film grad's sophomore work.

| Original Score: B- | Jul 31, 2003

Washington Heights is sloppy and often undernourished, but it convincingly creates a neighborhood throbbing with activity and caring.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jul 23, 2003

Deserves a wide audience hungry for sympathetic, three-dimensional people caught up in something bigger than themselves.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 21, 2003

A fine and absorbing film.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 11, 2003

Director de Villa captures the rhythms and colors, the sounds and flavor of the neighborhood that gives this movie its name.

Full Review | Jun 15, 2003

Perez has fire and verve in him and an impressive screen presence.

Full Review | May 28, 2003

Mr. De Villa seems to have the talent to do better, if only he can find stronger characters and story lines than he has at his disposal here.

| May 16, 2003

Story is less than revelatory, but the filmmaking is energetic and convincing.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 9, 2003

For all its untidiness, Washington Heights teems with life, and its star, Mr. Perez, has charisma to burn.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 9, 2003

Washington Heights hits a few false notes -- Eddie's vicious put-downs of his son's professional goals seem extreme, and the tragic denouement is slightly melodramatic -- but De Villa has created a truthful representation of a colorful community.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 9, 2003

Washington Heights feels stiff and overworked in places, and sometimes the acting is a bit awkward. And yet the story is both compelling and easy to identify with.

| May 9, 2003

The DV tics (vertiginous pull-zooms, smeary focus) can't bury the movie's immense heart.

| May 6, 2003

Despite its little imperfections, Washington Heights exists to make the Miguel Pieros of the world proud.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 24, 2003

When the film shows the awkwardness of the lead's caregiver relationship with his cranky father, De Villa finds material that's compelling, but such complications as the girlfriend's violent brother going ballistic and tragedy ensuing are rugged cliches.

Full Review | Aug 24, 2002