Near the New York-Pennsylvania state line, “Heavy” (1995) presents a look at ordinary individuals within a small rural bar and restaurant. A reserved cook (Pruitt Taylor Vince) finds himself preoccupied with his weight after developing an attraction to a young waitress, a former college student (Liv Tyler). Another employee, an older woman (Deborah Harry), feels insecure because of this situation. Shelley Winters portrays the establishment’s owner, and Joe Grifasi plays a regular patron who drinks too much. Some have labeled "Heavy" the “Marty” of the 1990s. I haven't seen that earlier film, but it features Ernest Borgnine in a part comparable to the central character here. The movie focuses on Victor’s story, while also examining Del (Harry) and the other characters to a lesser degree. Del is nearing her fifties, and one can imagine she was quite striking at some point. Now, she's working at a modest tavern where romantic possibilities are limited to an overly talkative drunkard and a timid young man. This isn’t really for viewers who need constant action sequences to stay engaged (and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying those kinds of movies, lol). It is instead a straightforward drama about everyday people and the social interactions that shape their lives—their sometimes dull routines, along with their aspirations, anxieties, disappointments, complaints, and sorrows. The film touches on individuals who have become so accustomed to confinement that they've forgotten what it means to be free. Its tone is reminiscent of other 1990s dramas like "Sling Blade," released the following year, and “Limbo” (1999). Although it doesn’t share the survival aspect of “Limbo,” does it truly lack that element? Apparently, Frank Black, lead singer for The Pixies, was considered for the role of Victor but turned down the opportunity because he didn't want to play such a character. Still, I think he would have been well-suited for the part. The film’s running time is 1 hour and 44 minutes. It was filmed in southeast New York, specifically in Barryville (Victor’s home), five miles northeast of there in Highland Lake (the tavern), across the border in Shohola, Pennsylvania (the bridge), and 80 miles northeast of those locations in Hyde Park, NY, on the Huson River (Culinary Institute). GRADE: B

Source on TMDB