Barry Levinson has made many great films (Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam, Diner) and also some not-so-great ones (Jimmy Hollywood, Toys, Sphere) but Avalon is my personal favorite among this director's works. It's a magnificently constructed, beautifully filmed, and deeply personal film about the American family in the mid-20th century. Very funny, surprisingly touching, and ultimately heartbreaking and moving, Avalon is completely perfect, blessed with a screenplay that should have scored Levinson an Oscar (he was nominated) and wonderful performances, particularly from the great Armin Mueller-Stahl and Joan Plowrightand a very young Elijah Wood. Avalon might be Levinson's own personal story, but like any great movie, it hits a universal chord.
