i give it a 5 out of 10. (unless i explain this it's not a spoiler).

very well executed. steeped in nonsense. some might call this movie 'romantic'. i'd feel sorry for them. it's not that i can't appreciate the artistry in the telling of the story. it's just that i don't see much that's based on anything in the neighborhood i've experienced as reality. growing up in brooklyn, many of the characters in the movie seemed familiar. but that doesn't make them any less pathetic. what's sad for me about having spent the time to see this film is that i wish there was something a bit more substantial that i could take away as a souvenir. instead, i'm left with a reaction from the majority of responders that does not reflect well on their internal workings.