New York New York

 New York New York 1977

• Director: Martin Scorcese
• Seen by this director: The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo, Shutter Island, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Bringing Out the Dead, The Last Temptation of Christ, Taxi Driver, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More
• Based on novel: no
• Cast: Liza Minelli, Robert De Niro, Clarence Clemons
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Liza Minelli – Arthur, Cabaret, Tell Me That You Love Me Junie Moon
• Robert De Niro – Joy, Silver Linings Playbook, Stardust, Extras, Flawless, Great Expectations, Jackie Brown, Cop Land, Marvin’s Room, Heat, Frankenstein, Awakenings, Stanley and Iris, Brazil, 1900, Taxi Driver, Hi Mom
• Clarence Clemons – live, in concert, several times
• Why?  Liza Minelli
• Seen:  4 February 2022

WWII is over, New York is celebrating, music is jumping, and people are dancing. Hot shot Jimmy (De Niro) fancies himself and hustles women. When he gets to Francine (Minelli) she resists at first, then gives in. What a surprise.

This is very off-putting. Maybe the music will redeem it.

Not much. It’s about a woman in a destructive relationship with an egomaniac abusive man who says, ‘I love you.’

It’s not even interesting.

It gets a couple of stars because Clarence Clemons (playing trumpet!) is in it, because Minelli is a good singer – her rendition of the title song is strong – because the other music is OK and because the ending is slightly better than the rest. 

2* of 5