Untamed Heart (1993)

Marisa Tomei plays a pretty, friendly waitress who chases after love often, but in spite of her nature is never able to catch and hold onto it. She seldom sees the sweet guy with a weak heart who works as a busboy at the same diner as she does. But he notices her, every day.
There’s not much more to say. It’s mostly predictable, but that doesn't make it boring. It’s a simple, heartfelt story told beautifully. People allergic to that kind of thing will likely hate it. Alternatively, people with a heart suffering from neglect may find it's just the treat they need to nourish it.

4 walks home out of 5

Five Corners (1987)

1964. Martin Luther King’s famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial still reverberates among the populace and revolution is in the air, but for most folks in the Bronx life goes on as normal.
Serious topics are explored but they’re also genuinely funny, at least for a while. Mostly it revolves around a trio of neighbourhood friends as they struggle to be independent, and a fourth youth fresh out of prison and eager to stir up trouble. There are other characters, too, not crucial to the main plot who nevertheless add something interesting to the whole, helping define the era. The last half hour makes a huge difference to how you feel afterwards.

3 people and things out of 5