Man Push Cart (2005): A-

One of the only NYC movies that made me feel like I was heading to my unglamorous, low paying job in Times Square. Director Ramin Bahrani and cinematographer Michael Simmonds use their limited budget to capture the city with an honest, simple, naturalistic style. They depict our sisyphean hero's struggles with just as much honesty and care. Ahmad is a Pakistani ex-rockstar who scrapes by as a breakfast cart vendor. It’s refreshing to watch a movie about the working life that doesn’t romanticize, idealize, or pound our faces in with spoon-fed ideology. Looking for a cinematic hug? Look elsewhere.

Michael Seymour Blake, Guest Contributor