Bullets Over Broadway
1994 Directed by Woody Allen
Synopsis
Set in 1920's New York City, this movie tells the story of idealistic young playwright David Shayne. Producer Julian Marx finally finds funding for the project from gangster Nick Valenti. The catch is that Nick's girl friend Olive Neal gets the part of a psychiatrist, and Olive is a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist as well as being a dreadful actress. Agreeing to this first compromise is the first step to Broadway's complete seduction of David, who neglects longtime girl friend Ellen. Meanwhile David puts up with Warner Purcell, the leading man who is a compulsive eater, Helen Sinclair, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Cheech, Olive's interfering hitman / bodyguard. Eventually, the playwright must decide whether art or life is more important.
Cast
Popular reviews
More-
A struggling playwright (John Cusak) is forced to cast a gangster's moll in the star part of his play in order to get it produced in the Roaring 20's New York. The moll is talentless and the playwright soon discovers that one of her assigned bodyguards has more writing talent than he does. Cusak's character soon falls for an aging diva whose attentions just add to the confusion.
A light, slapstick piece, this is one of Woody Allen's best films, perhaps because he isn't in it. It also raises good questions about the artist's debt to the creative muse and the price one pays to create.
Recent reviews
More-
One of my favourite Woody Allen movies with stand-out performances from John Cusack, Dianne Weist and Jennifer Tilly (I can't believe I'm typing that).
-
I thoroughly enjoyed this. And it undermines the fact that I much more enjoy a Woody Allen film without Woody Allen in the lead.
-
One of Woody Allen's sharpest and most entertaining movies of his later period. Great fun with terrific performances from it's stellar cast.
-
fun
-
Perhaps Woody Allen's funniest film, Bullets Over Broadway is a sparkling crime comedy with a dangerously strong ensemble, including Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Tilly, and especially Dianne Wiest.
-
My window was open, and I was embarrassed at what the people on the street must have thought of me. Cackling like an idiot. This movie is hilarious.
-
El Woody Allen Director de principios y mediados de los 90 estaba en estado de gracia,asi lo prueban "Misterioso Asesinato en Manhattan","Poderosa Afrodita","Maridos y Mujeres","Desmontando a Harry" o esta genial comedia ambientada en el mundo del teatro.Los sabores y sin sabores de un artista llevados a un extremo parodico,pero no por ello lleno cierta veracidad en un tono de comedia inteligentisima,perfectamente reflejados en esta pelicula.Jennifer Tilly nunca ha estado tan bien.
-
Bullets Over Broadway represents the first of my favorite Allen movies that doesn’t actually contain a performance by Woody himself. After this movie, it seems to me that he had a more difficult time knowing when to step aside for a role; maybe because it is so difficult for actors to step into the “Woody persona.” That said, it was absolutely the right choice here, as Woody the actor would not have worked as a struggling young playwright. John Cusack works just fine in the part; in fact, I’m not sure anyone did it better than him except for Michael Caine in Hannah and her Sisters and later, Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris. The story, which focuses on how…
-
Amusing, if not major Allen, but the cast is having a great time here. Wiest is a riot and Tilly is actually perfectly cast. Affectionate production design by Santo Loquasto and costume design by Jeffrey Kurland.