Synopsis
After a tragic accident caused by the truck of the middle-aged Carl Lee where a woman dies with a crushed stern, he is arrested and sent to the county jail. His son PJ, who works washing dishes and cleaning tables in a restaurant, feels lost, without financial support to keep his father's house, and is fired from his job and evicted from his house.
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Cast
- John HeardCarl Lee
- Tom GuiryPJ Lee
- America FerreraAmy Barnes
- Clayne CrawfordBen Lee
- Laurie MetcalfMarianne Karn
- Raymond J. BarryVic Lee
- Jamie Anne AllmanMaria Lee (as Jamie Anne Brown)
- Kristian BestMichael Karns
- James DeBelloDanny
- Michael CowanCarpenter at Fire Job
Recommendations
- 83
Entertainment Weekly
Steel City could have used more rhythmic drive, but if Jun keeps weaving together characters this compelling, he could be a major film artist in the making. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
The only misstep Jun makes, and it's hard to fault him given the budget, is the mediocre and at times heavy-handed use of music. Still, it's an unqualified success from the heartland. - 70
Chicago Reader
Jun, a downstate native, has an ear for plainspoken dialogue and neither glamorizes nor patronizes his characters. - 70
New York Magazine (Vulture)
It has vivid characters, a strong sense of place, and a free-floating hopelessness that never precludes the possibility of meaningful action. - 70
Variety
Its honest, unshowy performances and textured depiction of life in a working-class community in a nowhere Southern Illinois town make this modest indie feature an affecting experience. - 70
The New York Times
Mostly Mr. Jun's script is sharp, and Laurie Metcalf, James McDaniel, America Ferrera and Raymond J. Barry in supporting roles help keep the tale mesmerizing, in a small-scale sort of way. - 63
New York Daily News
A shaky but promising debut, Brian Jun's downbeat family drama is likely to make you feel a whole lot better about your own life. - 60
Film Threat
The movie's strength is in the performances. And they're enough to make Steel City worth a look.