It seems like everybody I’ve talked to has said this movie was better than they expected, and I’d have to agree.  I was surprised to see them use some great shots of the city as well.  Shots near the bridge have a great rustic, if not gritty, quality to them that feel relatively authentic in their aesthetic.

While the basic plot of this film falls squarely into the “flight from Pittsburgh” genre, it’s not altogether reductive.  And at the same time, it’s difficult for me to say that the portrayal of the city is favorable, especially given James’s desire to move on to New York (which he eventually does).  But it’s also obvious that the filmmakers have taken notice of some of the unique landscapes and architecture of the area in a way that is a bit of a departure from previous portrayals of the city.