Port Authority is predictable and has some pacing issues, but it is still a story filled with heart, and two fantastic lead performances.
Port Authority is a movie that is not without flaws, however, the story filled with heart and the lead performances shine through. Even though it is quite predictable and there are some pacing issues throughout, this is a movie that is worth watching for the sheer talent of the actors, as well as for the overall messages and warmth that it brings.
In Port Authority a young man named Paul is kicked out of his home in Pennsylvania and travels to New York City to stay with his half sister. Unfortunately for him she did not agree to this, and he ends up with no place to go. After crossing paths with a trans woman of color, Wye, he becomes intrigued by her beauty and a relationship starts to develop between them. He hasn’t been completely honest with her about where he is living and what he does, and that starts to cause cracks and rifts in their relationship.
The overall story, and what this young man, Paul, goes through, is full of heart. Having arrived in NYC knowing no one, and with nowhere to go, he has to deal with a lot. Unfortunately these are things that happen in real life to a lot of people, and this movie not shying away from the grit of the homeless community should be commended.
Sometimes people are left with no choice but to do things they are not proud of, and that is exactly what Paul does when he teams up with Lee. Fionn Whitehead plays Paul and really helps bring believability to this character. His performance is incredible, and he delivers Paul’s story arc so well. Especially in the final few scenes of the film.
Leyna Bloom is the other standout in this film, doing a fantastic job of breathing life into Wye. To be so confident and own the screen the way that she does, is impressive with a young actor. Simply phenomenal. Her relationship with Paul is another part of the movie that feels accurate and believable from an outsider looking in, and is one of the biggest reasons to watch Port Authority.
The biggest issue with Port Authority is the pacing. There are moments that feel very slow, to the point where the viewers’ mind could easily drift off for a while, before being sucked back into the story. The best part of the movie is the relationship between Paul and Wye, so whenever that is not at the forefront, the story becomes not as intriguing. However, the overall story and performances make this movie worth sticking around through the slow moments.
Port Authority certainly has its issues, but it also has some great moments. The two leads are fantastic, and it is clear the story has a lot of heart. A great debut from director Danielle Lessovitz.
About Port Authority
After getting kicked out of his home in central Pennsylvania, Paul (Fionn Whitehead) arrives to NYC’s dizzying central station with nowhere to go. A momentary encounter with Wye (Leyna Bloom), a trans woman of color, leads him to seek her out. Transfixed by her beauty and confidence, a love soon blossoms. But as the two learn more about each other, Paul’s false narratives begin to surface and the double life he lives must be reconciled.
PORT AUTHORITY In Theaters May 28th and On Demand and Digital on June 1, 2021.
