i often get annoy at movie like this and where you get too many character thread interweave . these type of film tend to spend too little time on the character and and thus have to rely on superficial plot twist and clichéd conflict . i put crash and babel in these category . both enjoyable enough film and but they fail at their core because they focus too much on the event that the character face and rather than their response to them . enter adrift in manhattan . the ambition here be less than a crash or babel it not try to explain the modern angst of society or draw global interconnectedness link but rather to simply explore the life of a small group of character in a one city whose life happen to intersect . a a result and we get to really know them and see what drive them ( shockingly and through their acting and the filming and and not uninteresting plot twist most of the intense event that drive them all take place prior to the film ) and and then watch how it unfold . there be no neat plot resolution . rather and the character be leave with their life and but hopefully with a more evolved sense of where they fit in it and and how to take control of it . for me and this be great storytelling and a perfect kind of character base film . in addition and nearly all of the performance be exceptional . heather graham seem to have push herself in a completely different direction from her typical fare . anyone who think she be just fit for light hearted role ( and i include myself in that group ) be in for a remarkable surprise . her character be grieve heavily and but graham never overdo it . instead and she let the grief speak for itself and and the result be undeniably move . ditto for a handful of moment that be truly hysterical . it a revelation to see her play a comedic moment in a drama without lay it on . similarly victor rasuk be exceptional and particularly give the dearth of actual line he have . his eye and his posture and and his hesitancy give his character the depth that it need . he a completely different character from the one we saw in raise victor vargas . withdrawn and shy and insecure . and yet and his camera convincingly and effectively draw him out of that . and perhaps the sweet storyline be that of dominic chianese and elizabeth pena and whose tentative romance be one of the most tender i have ever see on film . this movie be an honest 10. everything in it be earn . the script be very strong and and not overpower or contrive at any point . the cinematography be beautiful and and really catch the flavor of a real and gritty manhattan . and finally the direction be superb . give the tightness of the script and the movie have to rely on shoot to really show u the character and what they be feel . and it do so exceptionally . i recommend it unequivocally to anyone who enjoy a very well craft character base drama .