New York, New York
This film, not the city, stars Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli as they enter a complicated on-and-off again relationship fueled by love, hate, and music. It’s like La La Land, except the audience doesn’t want them to be together because De Niro’s Jimmy Doyle sucks, and Minnelli’s Francine Evans deserves so much better.
I typically think things that make me cringe are funny. Nathan Fielder is one of my favorite working artists, and his work relies heavily upon making the audience cringe at the absurdity or the awkwardness of what is happening. I revel in it. However, in this film De Niro pushes it to an extreme that made even me uncomfortable. After repeated romantic rejection from Minnelli, he doesn’t understand she isn’t interested because she is too nice to directly tell him no. She drops dozens of clues for him to get lost, but he doesn’t understand. It’s near impossible to watch.
Eventually, they enter a musical partnership which leads to a romantic one through time. However, it’s clear that Jimmy doesn’t respect her musically as his ego prevents him from seeing anyone as his equal. He frequently tries to upstage her brilliant singing on his saxophone.
The film is maximalist. The set decoration is taken to opulent levels during most scenes. It’s incredible the amount of detail they are able to fit into each and every frame. I was very impressed by this aspect of the film in particular.
Overall, this film just didn’t stick for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, I just don’t think I’ll remember it well once a few weeks pass and it’s not fresh on my mind. I wanted to love it, I just fell short this time.
Scorsese Ranking
There’s a good movie in here, I just didn’t fully appreciate it.
- Taxi Driver
- Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
- Mean Streets
- Who’s That Knocking at My Door
- New York, New York
- Boxcar Bertha
Next week, the Robert De Niro hits keep coming with Raging Bull, one of my most highly anticipated films on this journey.
