New York, I Love You (2008)

New York, I Love You: Directed by Fatih Akin, Yvan Attal, Randall Balsmeyer, Allen Hughes, Shunji Iwai, Wen Jiang, Shekhar Kapur, Joshua Marston, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner. With Hayden Christensen, Andy Garcia, Rachel Bilson, Natalie Portman. Eleven love stories set in one of the most loved and hated cities of the world, New York City.

“New York, I Love You is a collective work of eleven short films, with each segment running around 10 minutes long. The shorts donu0026#39;t exactly relate but they all have something in common, love. Every short is about finding love, either if itu0026#39;s about a couple or just two strangers chitchatting.The film stars an ensemble cast, among them Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Orlando Bloom, Chris Cooper, Andy Garcia, Christina Ricci, Irrfan Khan, Robin Wright Penn, Julie Christie, Ethan Hawke, Bradley Cooper, Rachel Bilson, and Anton Yelchin. With such a stellar cast and such an interesting premise, I was expecting a tremendous film; the problem is New York I Love You doesnu0026#39;t add up. It remains the sum of its parts. Some of the segments are funny, original and interesting but others are so meaningless (Orlando Bloom/Christina Ricci and Ethan Hawke/Maggie Q segments) that itu0026#39;s appalling. The film is definitely uneven and has a very experimental tone. Story-wise, it seems like something a few film students could put together. Having said that, the film has some great moments as well, one of the best being the segment about an old couple, played by Eli Wallach and Cloris Leachman, walking along in Brooklyn on their 67th wedding anniversary. And itu0026#39;s moments like this, that made me as a viewer, wish the film was more consistent, because, thereu0026#39;s a lot of potential here. But, as unsatisfying as the overall story ends up being, for me, the cinematography and soundtrack saved the all thing. The editing was perfect, the way the film was shot was very impressive and the ethereal soundtrack, couldnu0026#39;t be more fitting. In the end, New York I Love You feels like an experimental film, and as in most experiences thereu0026#39;s highs and lows. Itu0026#39;s how one looks at the film as a whole that will determine if he enjoys it or not. It might be worthwhile for some and a waste of time for others.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e7/10”