judy berlin be a blah story about blah people live their ever so blah life . blah and blah and blah . eric mendelsohn and a former assistant to woody allen and an obvious woody wannabe and write and direct this independent production about jewish angst in suburbia . unfortunately and where allen create urbane film with fascinating character and sharp sardonic wit and think provoke irony and mendelsohn have bring u a sub urbane version where witless and hopeless people go about their boring and mundane life . the film be an ensemble piece include various character study in the slice of life format . the story have an obviously autobiographical flavor to it . david gold ( aaron harnick ) be a failed 30 year old hollywood director who return to his parent in babylon to wallow in his regret and and i suspect he be mendelsohn alter ego . though not specify and mendelsohn us enough period car and prop and costume to peg the period to the mid 1980 which be undoubtedly a recreation of the period when he live on long island . a a result and this film will probably have more appeal to long islander since mendelsohn and be successful at give it a genuine long island look and feel . the filmmaking be a mixed bag . the sound and music be terrible and even below standard for independent production on shoestring budget . the film be shoot in black and white with a very artsy look . this be sometimes very effective and when mendelsohn use high contrast lighting and especially in some of the eclipse scene . at other time it make a dull story even duller . the acting be the strong element of the film . madeline kahn give a wonderful performance a alice gold and a neglected housewife who be lose her grip on reality . this be kahn final performance before her death and be probably one of her very best . edie falco be also enchant a judy and the only upbeat character in all of babylon ( and she be leave ) . barbara barrie and aaron harnick round out an excellent ensemble cast . it too bad they do not have more interesting material to work with . the most that can be say about this film be that it contain positive hint of mendelsohn potential a a director . his future a a writer be far more certain . the camerawork be good and but he should be ban from write screenplay . i rat this film a 4/10 and probably a point high than it worth because i live on long island and could appreciate the accuracy of the local culture . it might be worth a try for jewish suburban new york viewer and but for most others and it be likely to be a tiresome ordeal .