New York, I Love You

Director: Various including Yvan Attal Fatih Akin, Jiang Wen and Natalie Portman
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Bradley Cooper, Shia LeBeouf and Julie Christie
Releasing in cinemas: 13 May 2010
Rated: M

Another potpourri of whimsical, romantic, enigmatic interludes in that most exciting of all cities, New York - ‘the capital of everything possible’. Following the format of producer Emmanuel Benbihy’s Paris Je T’aime, the film is like a compilation of short stories by various authors; some will amuse, some move, and some leave you cold. Such is the case here, the results patchy but mostly enjoyable.

The various incidents are interwoven, lacking individual titles, so we slip from one into another often without warning as New Yorkers search for love in their lives along the streets of the city. Eleven incidents feature, often with erotic overtones (and many with a twist in the ending), crafted by young upcoming directors. The city’s multi-cultural dynamic is a feature of the production, shot in Manhattan's iconic neighbourhoods.

The most appealing include Jiang Wen’s story of pickpocket Ben (Hayden Christensen) trying to impress Molly (Rachel Bilson) in a Chinatown bar, when another thief and her current boyfriend Garry (Andy Garcia) puts his spoke in the wheels. Moving to Central Park, Brett Ratner takes the helm of an ironic little charmer. Bashful young Anton Yelchin’s prom night escort Olivia Thirlby, daughter of pushy pharmacist James Caan turns out to be an unexpected prize.

There’s a touch of Guy De Maupassant in a number of the stories, including one directed by Yvan Attal about Ethan Hawke’s provocative encounter with an intriguing woman (Maggie Q) on a street corner with a disconcerting ending involving smokers - a common sight in New York especially outside cafes at night. Another notable episode also helmed by Attal has Chris Cooper having a smoke beyond the doors of a restaurant when he engages in a seductive conversation with Robin Wright Penn leading to a quirky resolution.

Raising questions about its meaning comes the most abstract essay, written by the late Anthony Mingella and directed by Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth). In a baroque East Side hotel a sophisticated guest once a celebrity (Julie Christie) and a strange limping bellboy (Shia LaBeouf) take a vaguely disturbing trip to the Twilight Zone with John Hurt watching in the wings. Mira Nair’s contribution, set in the Diamond District, has a young Hasidic bride (Natalie Portman) finding empathy with shrewd diamond merchant Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionare) who is fascinated by the bride’s hair.

In a poignant mood, Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace) provides a compelling study of the uncertain comforts of marriage in old age. Eli Wallach, once a member of the The Magnificent Seven, and Cloris Leachman shuffle slowly along the foreshore at Coney Island. Constantly bickering in Woody Allen mode, there’s truth, humour and pathos in the segment.

Despite the different directors, the visuals have a continuity throughout. Directors were given the task to complete each episode in two days shooting and seven days editing - not a lot of time to change your mind. The entire film was shot in eight weeks.

The whole thing is cobbled together with picture-postcard shots of the city with Emilie Ohana playing the video camera operator. As mentioned, the stories vary in their appeal, however you only have to wait about eight minutes before the next one hits the screen. If you enjoyed Paris Je T'aime you'll probably get a kick out of this visit to another fabulous city. The producers intend the series to continue in Rio, Shanghai and Mumbai. Presumably when you're on a good thing, stick to it.

John Bale