The Saint of Fort Washington

Matthew, a gentle homeless Brooklyn boy (Dillon), makes his way to the Fort Washington shelter, and is befriended and defended by the grouchy veteran Jerry (Glover). We learn, bit by bit, of his history of schizophrenia and abandonment. Jerry takes this holy fool under his wing, teaching him the lore of the road, the car-wash game, and introducing him to his homeless friends, the crack down at The Blarney Stone boozer, and big plans. Though something of a failure in its own terms, this social-conscience movie does produce a strong emotional tug, helped no end by the dignified performances of Dillon and Glover. Essentially, however, content and form work against each other. Fred Elmes' fine location camerawork imbues the movie with a warm but inappropriate air of nostalgia. Likewise, Lyle Kessler's honourable script and Hunter's leisurely direction drive for a sense of distance - which results, regrettably, in only a glaze of humanitarian compassion.