MacArthur Park (film)

MacArthur Park is a 2001 American independent drama film directed by Billy Wirth and written by Wirth, Tyrone Atkins, Aaron Courseault and Sheri Sussman. The film features ensemble cast stars Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Ellen Cleghorne, B-Real, Balthazar Getty, Lori Petty and Bad Azz. The film follows a homeless former jazz musician (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) trying to survive in MacArthur Park. R&B singer Macy Gray covered song “MacArthur Park” for closing credits.

MacArthur Park
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Directed by	Billy Wirth
Written by	Billy Wirth Tyrone Atkins Aaron Courseault Sheri Sussman
Produced by	Billy Wirth Maricel Pagulayan
Starring	Thomas Jefferson Byrd Ellen Cleghorne B-Real Balthazar Getty Lori Petty Bad Azz
Cinematography	Kristian Bernier
Edited by	Terri Breed
Music by	Stephen Perkins
Production company	Northshire Entertainment Group
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release date	January 11, 2001 (2001-01-11)
Running time	109 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

MacArthur Park premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2001, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.^[1] It later screened at the 2001 Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival.^[2] The film received positive reviews from critics for subject matter and performances (particularly Byrd, Getty, Deary, Cleghorne and Lori Petty).^[3]

Cast

• Thomas Jefferson Byrd as Cody
• Brandon Quintin Adams as Terry
• Bad Azz as Pair
• Tami Roman as Rose
• Miguel A. Núñez Jr. as Blackie
• Ellen Cleghorne as Blue
• B-Real as Freddie
• Lori Petty as Kelly
• Glenn Plummer as Leo
• Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Linda
• Sticky Fingaz as E-Max
• Balthazar Getty as Steve
• Kirk Taylor as Officer Davis
• Alexia Robinson as Kim
• Keno K. Deary as P.T.
• Julie Delpy as Wendy
• Carlton Wilborn as St. Louis
• Cynda Williams as Alicia
• David Faustino as Bobby
• Rachel Hunter as Karen
• Sydney Walsh as Newscaster
• Saaphyri Windsor as Jackie

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10.^[4]

Film critic Dennis Harvey from Variety gave it positive review praising Wirth's feature directing debut and acting performances.^[3] Film critic Dennis Schwartz also gave it positive review writing: "The film is one-part gritty urban social realism and another part art-house chic, which leaves a limited audience for a film that is dramatically flawed but bursts through at times with raw power."^[5]