Review: New York, I Love You

As a native New Yorker but a recent resident of New York City itself, I was especially curious to see what all the fuss was about surrounding New York, I Love You. To be completely honest, I recently bought Paris, Je T’aime and have yet to watch it. But something about New York City life as captured in brief snippets with major stars peaked my curiosity. So last weekend I went to see the film with a friend, hoping that the crowd was as nostalgic for their city and as excited for the movie as I was. I wanted tears, I wanted laughter… I wanted a really great movie. I knew that sitting in a packed house with a bunch of locals would help me decide just how authentic the movie’s depiction of Manhattan was. After all, the hardest audience to impress would be that of real New Yorkers.

Ethan Hawke and Emilie Ohana

Each vignette was shot in roughly two days, and some of the various directors include: Faith Akin, Joshua Marston, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman (her directorial debut), and Randall Balsmeyer. While Joshua Marston is the only one to branch outside of Manhattan, the scenes mesh together almost flawlessly, giving this big city a flavor, a face, and a life of its own. However, you can’t have everything; there are no homosexual pairings in the entirety of the film and most couples are comprised of white, straight heterosexual men and women. It’s a romantic vision of New York, sure, but it’s a bit less realistic and a bit more eccentric than even we New Yorkers would admit to. There is a clear distinction in real life between actively picking up a beautiful woman on a street corner (who turns out to be a hooker – no surprises there) and bumping into a very handsome man getting out of a cab and introducing yourself. With that being said, there are likely more misses than hits in both worlds, but the film does do a good job of exploring every interaction with great zeal.

Cloris Leachman and Eli Wallach (AP Photo/Vivendi Entertainment)

New York, like most major cities, is often made intangible and achingly beautiful; as such, it’s typically left underdeveloped in movies. Of all the stories in New York, I Love You only a few really last after the credits have rolled: Natalie Portman’s moment of tenderness in her exchange with Irrfan Khan, and the domino effect of an impossibly perfect one-night stand, featuring Drea de Matteo and Bradley Cooper. Every laugh, every look, every touch is felt by these six degrees of separation. Even when it’s silly and overplayed (i.e. the scene in which Anton Yelchin has sex with his seemingly handicapped prom date, played by Olivia Thirlby) there’s a connection that makes these otherwise outlandish characters come to life. It’s real enough most of the time, and that’s what makes both the movie and New York so darn lovable.

About the Author: Jiordan Castle

I don't eat raisins or watch horror flicks, but I do love chocolate and discovering new albums. I was indie before being indie wasn't indie anymore. Currently, I live in Manhattan. And yes, it really is about as cool as it sounds.

Jiordan Castle has written 10 articles for us.