I just got home from the second installment in the “Cities of Love” Movies: “New York, I love You” Just like “Paris, Je T’aime” New York, I love You is a film featuring eight minute shorts directed by different director’s with an all-star cast.
The texture of this film was grittier, more… you know… New York. There were some repeat of themes: married couples role playing, a child care person’s life as servant vs. their own world, love, and the city. New York seemed so full and so alive. It is Gotham.
There is one scene in which an elderly couple (Eli Wallach, Cloris Leachman) bicker as they make their annual trek to Coney Island to celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary. They stand on the boardwalk and we watch the seagulls fly and the waves rushing to the sandy shore. The couple become young and sweet again for a brief moment. (through some great acting – no special effects here) It is an absolutely gorgeous moment. I had to laugh out loud on several occasions at characters that seemed so “New York” without being stereotypical. Not a lot of black folks in this one, though we were treated to the interiors of a couple of Asian characters. I kept thinking to myself:
Where are the Puerto Ricans?
What about Harlem?
I reckon they didn’t want to depict the expected.
Having said that, however, I highly recommend New York, I love You. It’s a good solid film and features some of the industries’ best actors: Eli Wallach, Cloris Leachman, James Caan, Shia La Beouf, Natalie Portman stars & directs, Ethan Hawke and Orlando Bloom. Some of the Directors featured are Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 2 & 3) and Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth) Of course there are some great writers and editors on board as well.
Nice way to spend a coupla hours!
The end credits promise that the next installment in the “Cities of Love” Franchise will be: Shanghai, I love You. OOOH!!!
