Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Adrift In Manhattan is about people who feel all alone in this world.  Even living in a place as crowded as New York City, three people are all alone tonight.  All have reasons to feel isolated, but all can be reached, by the right person.

Heather Graham plays Rose, an optometrist who can't get past the recent passing of her two year old son.  The son's death has driven a wedge between Rose and her husband (William Baldwin) such that the couple are separated, neither able to turn to the other.

Rose has to give a patient some very sad news.  Tommaso (Dominic Chianese) is an elderly painter who makes a living by working part-time in a company's mail room.  Sadly, Tommaso has only a few months left before he will be completely blind. Tommaso has no family, no one he can share his feelings with.  Without his painting, and without his job, what will be left for him?

Simon (Victor Rasuk) is a shy, awkward twenty year old who lives with his overbearing mother.  To say their relationship is "odd" is an understatement.  Though nothing is shown outright, there are implications that their relationship is just a bit "improper".  Simon has no social skills at all.  He barely says a word to anyone except his mother.  But he's a gifted photographer, and he likes going out into the street, photographing the passers-by.  When Rose ends up in his lens, he's instantly smitten.  Unable to approach her, he's content to follow her around taking her picture.

Whereas most of us would not like being "stalked" in this manner, Rose is only mildly annoyed, and soon comes to enjoy the attention.

The movie bounces around all of these stories as the three main characters struggle to bring some happiness to their otherwise bleak lives.  Rose enjoys feeling beautiful in Simon's eyes.  And she also becomes a pseudo-therapist to Tommaso, helping him overcome is feelings of isolation.  Tommaso enjoys talking to Rose, and eventually gets up the courage to approach a nice lady in his office (Elizabeth Pena) and ask her for a date.  Simon's confidence grows as does his friendship with Rose, until eventually he can hold a normal conversation with others.

The stories held my attention, as I really wanted to see how it all worked out.  The performances were all terrific.  Heather Graham's pain at losing her child is palpable, as is her estrangement from her husband.  Eventually we learn what's really behind her inability to move forward with her life.  Dominic Chianese was a delight, as Tommaso.  It's so sad that he's going blind, and we just hope that he will, eventually, be "ok".  He may lose his ability to paint, he may even lose his job, but if he can just find a companion, we have hope that his life will continue to give him fulfillment.  And Victor Rasuk, as Simon, was also very good.  Although some of his scenes are "creepy" especially the ones with his mother, you have a sense that he can come through this awkward stage, if only someone would take the time to really know him.  Maybe Rose is that person?

Where this movie will lose a lot of support is in its pacing.  It is SLOW.  There is no action, and very little actual dialog.  Most of the messages are conveyed through expressions on the faces of the characters.  Or through the black and white views of Simon's camera lens.  I believe that many people will be bored to tears by this movie.  Some viewers will also be offended by the implied relationship between Simon and his mother.  Some of those scenes are difficult to watch, for sure.  There's also a scene between Rose and Simon that some viewers will find disturbing.  But I thought it was a necessary scene - it showed exactly where Rose is, at this point in her life.

I thought the stories were interesting, and the way the main characters lives all intersect held my interest. But I would guess that this movie will appeal to a very limited audience.  Still, I enjoyed it, and would recommend people give it a try.  Just know, going in, what to expect.

Recommended: Yes