Set in a small fishing community in the Bronx with a large population of Italian-Americans, City Island is a warmly hilarious movie about family members and their secret hearts. Writer-director Raymond De Felitta (Two Family House) tells his story modestly, but his gift for laughs laced with charm and bristling humanity is utterly irresistible. Andy Garcia, showing an untapped flair for comedy, gives one of his best and most beguiling performances as Vince Rizzo, a prison guard (he prefers "corrections officer") whose wife, Joyce (a sexy, frisky Julianna Margulies), thinks he's cheating on her. In fact, Vince is sneaking off to the big city to take acting lessons with a teacher, hilariously deadpanned by Alan Arkin. I'll say no more. City Island is a relief for filmgoers dulled by Hollywood formula. Despite lapses into overstatement, it's nothing but good, sweet, breezy times.

“Alison”

On Elvis Costello’s country-tinged ballad, the lyric does not get too sentimental in recalling an ex who had since been with one of the singer's "little friends" and is now married. Some believe the song is about murder, due to lines like “Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking,” "Somebody better put out the big light" and, of course, "My aim is true,” which became the title of Costello's debut album. In 2002, Costello told Rolling Stone, “It isn’t [about murder]. It’s about disappointing somebody. It’s a thin line between love and hate, as the Persuaders sang.”