A.O. Scott of the New York Times notes:

A crepuscular glow suffuses “Starting Out in the Evening,” Andrew Wagner’s intelligent, careful adaptation of a near-perfect novel by Brian Morton. This is not only a matter of the cinematography — digital video given an unusual burnish by Harlan Bosmajian, the director of photography — or of the setting. Late in the day, the sun slanting down over the North American mainland cloaks the brick and limestone of the Upper West Side of Manhattan in a somber, serious light that may, more than anything else, explain the area’s reputation for deep and lofty thought.

Fret not, the East Side gets it due as well. He goes on to praise the film for its superb acting, which stars Frank Langella, Lili Taylor and Lauren Ambrose, in the story of an aging writer and graduate student who takes interest in the rediscovery of the once-famous author. Newsday gives the Manhattan stamp of approval by saying it “has the patina of authenticity: there are the readings at the 92nd Street Y, the cocktail parties, the snarky literary agents.”

If you’re looking for a taste of that “authenticity” then try starting your evening with one of the many reading series events at the Y or watch movies come alive with actors discussing their craft in our Reel Pieces series featuring Daniel Day-Lewis and Jessica Lange among others.