MacArthur Park (film)

MacArthur Park is a 2001 American independent drama film directed by Billy Wirth and written by Wirth, Tyrone Atkins, Aaron Courseault and Sheri Sussman. The film features ensemble cast stars Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Ellen Cleghorne, B-Real, Balthazar Getty, Lori Petty and Bad Azz. The film follows a homeless former jazz musician (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) trying to survive in MacArthur Park. R&B singer Macy Gray covered song “MacArthur Park” for closing credits.

MacArthur Park premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2001, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. It later screened at the 2001 Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival. The film received positive reviews from critics for subject matter and performances (particularly Byrd, Getty, Deary, Cleghorne and Lori Petty).

Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10.

Film critic Dennis Harvey from Variety gave it positive review praising Wirth's feature directing debut and acting performances. Film critic Dennis Schwartz also gave it positive review writing: "The film is one-part gritty urban social realism and another part art-house chic, which leaves a limited audience for a film that is dramatically flawed but bursts through at times with raw power."