New York, New York (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of New York, New York (Special Edition)
Movie Review: artifice and honesty, combined into a seamless whole
Summary: 5 Stars
In Martin Scorsese's much-maligned NEW YORK, NEW YORK, the hollow artifice of the 1940s Technicolor musical clashes with the brutal honesty of human emotion, in a story about a doomed relationship between two individuals whose mutual love for music draws them together and pulls them apart.
In post-war New York, brash saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (Robert De Niro) meets young singer Francine Evans (Liza Minnelli), and together they join forces to create a new jazz and big-band sound. In typical "Star is Born" fashion, Francine is signed to a major record label and later becomes a Hollywood movie star; Jimmy's callous attitude to her wanting to start a family becomes the key for their break-up. The tempestuous love affair of Francine and Jimmy is the backbone of NEW YORK, NEW YORK, almost two different movies rolled into one: affectionate tribute to the classic Hollywood musical, and dramatic backstage romance. That duality is the reason why NEW YORK, NEW YORK stands up well to repeat screenings; Scorsese's masterful touch is all over this masterpiece, which is only now beginning to be recognized as a classic of it's time.
While the story may seem to be channeling "A Star is Born" (which starrred Minnelli's mother Judy Garland as an unknown who outgrows her husband's moviestar success); the characters of Francine and Jimmy, and their violent relationship, share a closer kinship to the Doris Day/James Cagney musical drama "Love Me or Leave Me"; Day's abusive 1941 marriage to jazz musician Al Jordan was also paralleled.
Visually, the movie is a rare treat; Laszlo Kovacs' cinematography and the art direction of Boris Leven is flawless. In one memorable scene, Jimmy and Francine wander into a yellowed barren wood that looks like something from the opening titles of "Doctor Zhivago". Veteran M-G-M hair stylist Sydney Guilaroff took care of Ms Minnelli's many elaborate, period-perfect hair creations (and in another lovely twist, Minnelli got to use her mother Judy Garland's original M-G-M dressing room while making this movie).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK used many original songs of the period for it's soundtrack ("You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me", "You Are My Lucky Star", "The Man I Love", "Just You, Just Me"). Especially-written for the movie by her longtime collaborators John Kander and Freb Ebb were several new songs which became staples of Liza Minnelli's repertoire ("But the World Goes 'Round", "Happy Endings", and "New York, New York"). The extensive production number for "Happy Endings" was modeled after the "Born in a Trunk" sequence from Judy Garland's "A Star is Born".
Robert De Niro's saxophone solos were dubbed by Georgie Auld (De Niro does a very convincing job of handling the instrument). The supporting cast includes Mary Kay Place, Larry Kert, Lionel Stander and Barry Primus.
I can't recommend this movie highly enough. NEW YORK, NEW YORK, initially dismissed by audiences and critics upon it's release in 1977, is now slowly being discovered as a masterpiece for the ages, and I for one am thrilled.
Movie Review: THE Classic Underrated Musical Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
This phenomenal achievement of the Scorcese-Minnelli-DeNiro triumvirate has never received the praise and appreciation it so winningly deserved. "New York, New York" is one of Martin Scorcese's breeziest films and he displays a lightness of touch he's not typically known for. The production values are first rate and the film fairly shimmers with the gleam of Old Hollywood from start to finish. This rather glossy touch actually heightens the tension of the very human drama being played out on screen. Scorcese makes this long film move like a short one with a camera that knows when to move and when to be still, and he coaxes the best out of his talented cast. Liza Minnelli delivers her finest performance here and was wickedly robbed of an Oscar nomination because of the film's poor reception. She's simply terrific in the musical numbers but, more importantly, she nails the emotional center of her character dead on and her quieter moments resonate with truthfulness and authority. Minnelli is a much better actress than she's ever been given credit for. Perhaps her rather quaint public persona and the endless travails of her personal life have distorted her talents in the eyes of the public. However, she's nothing short of superb here and she shows in her musical numbers why she has always been such a riveting performer. She has show biz in her very bones. The rather unexpected pairing of Minnelli and Robert DeNiro is actually quite right, and their chemistry is unmistakeable. DeNiro's later career has been a series of mannerisms and walk-throughs, but here he was in his prime and he plays his snarling and rather unlikeable character without compromise. You can sense what he needs and readily throws away through misguided ego and unrelenting drive. The qualities of these two disparate actors compliment each other repeatedly. I especially like the scene in rehearsal where he spanks her and she slams down the microphone and walks out. Short and sweet, but you get right away how much these two need each other but will never really work for one another. Mary Kay Place does a brief, rather ditzy turn as a band singer, showing the comic elan that brought her attention, but this is really the two stars' show and they never falter. Scorcese should be proud of this work because it accomplishes everything he set out to do. It should be noted that his commentary is both insightful and entertaining, a quality often lacking in DVDs, and the other extras, while not plentiful, add to understanding this film's creation. It will always be up to you "New York, New York".Movie Review: Liza at her best, De Niro at his average
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a combination of the old school and the new school of film making. This is definitely not your typical Martin Scorsese film. Scorsese has decided to pay tribute to the classic MGM musical but with a Scorsese touch.
This is a typical boy meets girl boy loses girl movie musical. He's a saxophonist and she is a singer but her talent is greater than his. Ala mama Judy's, A Star is Born, he cannot cope with wife's greater success and ala The Way We Were, they're truly in love but can't live together.
This is the Director's Cut with an extra 26 minutes of story and song than the original 1977 release. It has the fully restored Happy Endings musical number which was reduced to 3 minutes in the original release. Liza can thank mama for this, as this reconstruction was a direct result from the success of the restored A Star is Born (which had its Born in a Trunk sequence restored.)
This is Liza Minnelli's best film since Cabaret and her last great starring role. She is helped along with a great score by Fred Ebb and John Kander including the standard Theme from New York, New York. Liza's original make's Sinatra's version look limp.
Scorsese does well with this change of pace film. His vision of 50's New York City and 50's movie musicals is extremely well realized.
De Niro plays the typical De Niro but that's the character. Most of the other actors come and go and have no real parts but it is fun to see a pre Hart to Hart Lionel Stander as Minnelli's agent.
DVD EXTRAS:
There is a brief introduction to the film by Scorsese (Tip: Exit from the Special Features and it will ask you to if you want to see the introduction - This will put the into with the film. Otherwise, the into will run only.
Audio Commentaries by Scorsese and film critic Carrie Rickney. I did not listen to either of these.
There is a series of Alternate Takes, extended takes and Deleted Scenes. These are nice but there is no explanation of why they were chosen.
There is the usual Photo Gallery, Trailers and Teasers. None of which I watched.
The best is a documentary on the concept of the film with Martin Scorsese.
Movie Review: "New York, New York" Comes Into Its Own
Summary: 5 Stars
I've always loved this film. Uncompromising, grandly experimental, and maybe ahead of its time. With the new DVD, time has now caught up to "New York, New York" and it reveals a remarkable achievement. Perfect? No. Rather, it's a grand gamble fusing improvisation and old time movie musicals together for a sometimes raw, but always emotional journey. The movie examines several things at once. It shows the evolution of the American movie musical from MGM's "Let's Put On a Show" entertainments to Warner's (and others) more personal, character driven musical showcases (e.g. A Star is Born). The movie also follows the evolution of jazz from communal Big Band to solo experimental forms such as Bebop. I love how the principal characters in "New York, New York" start out as familiar musical comedy archetypes, but soon evolve into flesh and blood people juxtaposed against the artificiality of the musical form. What a great idea. Other than her work in "Cabaret", Minnelli has never been better. DeNiro is great and Scorsese pulls off scenes and musical numbers that honor and stand alongside Hollywood's best. The first fifteen minutes of this movie are a knockout for anyone that loves cinema. Yes, the movie is long. A little slow. But it's great discovery for those who have never seen it, and a treasure for those few that know the movie well. One added bonus is seeing Clarence Clemmons of Springsteen's "E-Street" band in his first (and only?) movie.Movie Review: Confused Reviewer has to go with her gut!
Summary: 5 Stars
As you can see by the reviews, nobody is too sure what to rate this movie. I heard Liza Minnelli in an interview once refering to New York, New York as "dark". I think that is perfect. It's a story about musicians with music - It's not a musical. It's directed by probably one of the greatest american directors of our age - I think to enjoy it you need to clear your head of any preconceptions. After watching it - I couldn't make up my mind if I understood what the movie wanted to say... But then I thought! Gee - What happened to just appriciating a great story and some superb acting. There are very few movies like New York, New York for us to compare it to, I think that is the problem, people aren't sure what they got from the movie. I'm open minded enough not to need it to 'be' anything. The movie is dark and heavy, but then light and wishful. It's beautiful - and it's lead, Liza Minnelli looks very very beautiful. Thank god they released this on DVD. Wonderful.