In the scene where Michael is being driven away from the warehouse fire, he looks out the back window of the car and sees a diner being put in place by a crane. Isn't this the diner from Diner? I always heard that Diner, Tin Men and Avalon were connected (sort of an autobiographical trilogy) and always thought the diner shot in Avalon was a nod to the first film in the "series".
What is it, Old Nehamkin? You are not looking well.
Actually, I think it was when they were driving away from the big fight at the "family circle" meeting, when Sam resigned.
But, in any event, I think you're right that it's probably an intentional reference to Diner, and Michael -- if not absolutely literally, at least figuratively -- later becomes one of the young guys who hang out at the diner in that movie.
"Michael" is based on Barry Levinson's life.
"Sod off, Baldrick"
Not sure if you saw Liberty Heights, but the diner also has a role in that movie.
And yes, in a magazine interview writer/direcotr Barry Levinson once called Diner, Tin Men, and Avalon "my Baltimore trilogy." (This was before he made Liberty Heights.
I thought that was a streetcar being pulled from the tracks....taken out of service.
sharedefinitely a nod to DINER, the film
shareI noticed that too, and in the movie "Diner" there is something on the menu called "The Avalon", I believe it's mentioned in the scene where that man is eating all the sandwiches.
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"If I've never seen it before, it's a new release to me."
I think it denoted the young lad's dawning awareness that things change and that not everything lasts. The diner was a retired streetcar that would never roll again. Since streetcars and streetcar talk figures prominently throughout 'Avalon', the boy is slowly realizing he is witnessing something profound - the passage of time, and indeed the beginning of change in the old home neighborhood as well. That's my interpretation of the diner scene.
shareTwo things to keep in mind: the real diner - which the movie was based on - was located in what was then a Jewish section of Baltimore - simply referred to as "Northwest Baltimore" - it was located on Reisterstown Road and was no where near the Avalon section where the early part of the move took place (referred to as 'lower Park heights'.
shareYes, you saw right: the diner was being placed in that scene and young Michael watched it being put on the foundation. It meant that he'll be spending a lot of time there when he becomes a teenager! Diner was first, then Avalon, and finally was Tin Men. That was the Baltimore Trio.
The New York Rangers suck. And Sidney Crosby is a cry baby!
In 1999, the trilogy became a quartet with Liberty Heights. For more information, see the thread on this board entitled "Levinson's Baltimore Quartet".
Way back there a reflection of me - turned my head in a circle of time
I thought life was for living - I thought life was a high time
I thought life was a fire - I thought life was a symbol.....