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That was an excellent one.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Superior performances are the hallmark of "Steel City," a moody, gritty, low-keyed drama set in the economically depressed area of the Upper Midwest. P.J. Lee (Tom Guiry) is a fitfully employed young man with an assortment of obstacles to overcome: his father's in jail on a vehicular manslaughter charge; his mom's re-married to a cop; his older brother's a philandering jerk whose wife walks out on him; and his girlfriend has a weight problem which makes P.J. reluctant to fully commit to her. He's also coping with the guilt of having been at least partially responsible for the fatal accident that his dad is claiming was all his fault.Though most of the screen time is taken up with the travails that P.J. is facing and the growing up he is forced to do as a result, the movie's true emotional focus is on the lengths a largely absent father will go to in an effort to redeem himself in the eyes of his son - even if that means having to sacrifice his own freedom to bring that redemption about. As the film's writer and director, Brian Jun demonstrates a nice feel for the look and flavor of the movie's wintry locale and for the tempo and rhythm of the characters' lives."Steel City" is sure to get lost in the shuffle of bigger and grander independent and not-so-independent films out there, but the authentic performances - by Guiry, John Heard, Raymond J. Barry, Clayne Crawford, Laurie Metcalf ("Roseanne") and America Ferreira (virtually unrecognizable out of her Ugly Betty get-up) - and sturdy film-making make it a movie well worth checking out.

. . . as STEEL CITY's main character Paul Joseph "P.J." Lee (played by Thomas Guiry) informs his ex-Marine Uncle Vic (Raymond J. Barry) early on. This movie boils down to an eternally-ungrateful P.J. getting countless breaks from nearly everyone in his life, wrapping up with the most implausible outcome imaginable--an ironic close which will be troubling to any viewer who has given this film the slightest attention, unless they are a total cynic already. Salvaging a better-than-average 7-out-of-10 rating, however, are plausible acting performances from Guiry, Barry, John Heard as P.J.'s self-sacrificing dad Carl, America Ferrera as his ambitious girlfriend Amy, Laurie Metcalf as P.J.'s nurse mom Marianne, James McDaniel as P.J.'s cop step-dad Randall, and so on through the supporting cast. It's too bad the whole flick is set up for the "other shoe" to drop on P.J.--and it never does! P.S.--To "From Granite City, IL" who starts off saying "I live in 'Steel City' . . ." It seems only fair that a "city" (that term seems to be used here somewhat loosely) should have just ONE natural resource or manufacturing nickname (and I somehow thought PITTSBURGH was "Steel City" already--what, with the Steelers and all). The "steel mill" shown in this movie looks like a steel mini-warehouse to anyone who has seen FLASHDANCE! To illustrate what I mean, I suppose someone once had an actual "rosebush" here where I live (maybe someone still does!). I know the Van Goghs down the street have a tulip bed . . . hmmmm--that must make as "Tulip City," as well. But wait--at the edge of "town" the Greens' farm has that pumpkin patch; come October people come from as far away as Oil City to buy one. So we're "Pumpkin City," too. Furthermore, most near every home here has trees in the front AND backyards: we could be "Tree City." To sum up: If Granite City is in the top three towns nationwide for either granite or steel, better take that nickname. If not, "Podunk's" still available.

Steel City is the story of a dysfunctional family working through the crisis of the father being jailed. The mother isn't present, although members of the extended family (uncles, etc.) play prominent roles.In my humble opinion, the only reason this movie doesn't have a higher rating is that none of the characters are particularly sympathetic; there isn't a single one of them that you would invite over to your house. In fact, you might be best advised to call 911 the instant any of these characters showed up in your neighborhood.That aside, the movie is enjoyable for the storyline, good acting, and good production values. The secret mentioned in the plot outline isn't such a big secret, don't look for a twist ending or suspense.Watch it when you can't find what you were looking for and have to settle for what's left in the rental store. It makes a pleasant evening of movie watching without being great.

I can't remember seeing such a heartfelt depiction of blue collar America since The Last Picture Show. It's a story that spoke very personally to me-- a very simple story about fathers and sons. And the crumbling life of one young man, dealing with his father in jail.And while the plot of the movie is very simple, the emotions within are complex, and played with such sincerity. From the opening shot Tom Guiry delivers such a great performance; watching the movie I couldn't help but think about all the people I know from my small hometown, who are just like him.The whole film, in the dialogue and casting, all just felt incredibly natural. And the film never goes for any forced or cheap dramatic moments. The cast of the whole family-- they all LOOKED like they could related as well, which is one of my pet peeves when watching a film.It made me think about my own family; my relationship to my own father. And the sacrifices that people make for each other-- even though they may not like each other, just because they are tied by blood.If you're looking for the next hippest flashy film, this is by far not that. If you're looking for an honest emotional experience that hits close to the bone, go see Steel City. I can only hope it comes out in my town so that I can take my father to see it.