New York, I love you. I really, truly do. But I am not convinced that the directors of New York, I Love You share the sentiment. In the latest film in the “Cities of Love” franchise (preceded by Paris and to be followed by Shanghai), 10 directors were each given eight minutes out of which to compose a love story in “the city that never sleeps.” However, unlike its predecessor, New York is left as a mere backdrop, providing chances to name-drop (Balthazar, Pastis, Tavern on the Green) and stereotype (a struggling composer in a cramped Lower East Side studio apartment, donning a ripped white shirt and yammering on an iPhone). Where Paris was the star of the show, New York is a mere chorus member.
The directors whose works comprise the film include Mira Nair, Brett Ratner, Allen Hughes and Natalie Portman, whose directorial debut is astonishing. In a beautifully shot eight minutes she portrays a modern family in Central Park. Portman’s brilliance lies in her ability to portray this could-be clichéd scene with utter and complete sincerity. She is able to channel her heartfelt and truthful acting abilities, as she displays in Mira Nair’s segment, into sheer directorial talent.
The rest of the cast is never ending list of stars, from up-and-comers such as Bradley Cooper, Olivia Thirlby and Anton Yelchin, to established thespians such as Ethan Hawke and Andy Garcia. Despite their limited screen time, the actors successfully delve into their roles. Yelchin and Thirlby do a particulary great job, taking Brett Ratner’s mediocre segment and adding spunky personality and humor. Julie Christie breaks hearts as an aged opera singer in Shekhar Kapur’s segment. Christie’s talents are almost matched by a surprisingly emotionally charged performance by Shia Labeouf.
From Central Park to Brooklyn, the Lower East Side to the Upper West, New York, I Love You takes you on a yellow-cabbed journey. With each distinct stop a distinct story is told. Although the 10 are not woven seamlessly together, there is an overwhelming feeling of love and affection throughout the film: to strangers, to friends, to crushes, to the past and to the present. But where is the love for the city itself?
3 stars Directed by: Fatih Akin and Yvan Attal Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Ethan Hawke Rated R, 110 min.
