Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29595 in Books
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Original language: English
• Binding: DVD

From Amazon.com
One of Woody Allen's best films of the '90s, Bullets over Broadway stars John Cusack as a virtual Woody surrogate, a neurotic, Jazz Age writer whose new play sounds wooden and unrealistic to a low-level mobster (Chazz Palminteri) assigned to watch over his boss's actress-girlfriend (Jennifer Tilly). When the hood starts contributing better story ideas and dialogue than what the official playwright can conjure, questions (not unlike those of Amadeus) about the price we pay to make art at the expense of other responsibilities are intriguingly raised. Palminteri gives a very interesting performance as the enforcer waking up to the desperate (and almost feminine) demands of his own creative psyche, and Dianne Wiest (who won an Oscar), Tracey Ullman, Jim Broadbent, and Jennifer Tilly are very funny together playing the ensemble cast of Cusack's play. --Tom Keogh

Review
In another of Woody Allen's homages to the Jazz Age, a mobster-turned-thespian, played exquisitely by Chazz Palmenteri, steals the show. With its pleasantly preposterous script, Bullets Over Broadway solidly exemplified Allen's 1990s comeback. As is often the case in Allen's films, the protagonist is a struggling artist. Allen often casts himself as this character; here, John Cusack gets the role, and, like such other Allen stand-ins as Kenneth Branagh in Celebrity, his mimicking of Allen's mannerisms is an acquired taste. Oscar-nominated Jennifer Tilly is fabulously bimboesque, also Oscar-nominated Palmenteri is wondrous as the inspired bodyguard who rewrites the script, and the cast is filled with Allen's usual assortment of beautifully turned small roles and oddball characters. Dianne Wiest won her second Oscar for an Allen film (the first came eight years earlier for Hannah and Her Sisters) as a stage diva whose "Don't speak!" joined the ranks of classic movie lines. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

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Customer Reviews

Funny, funny, funny!!
And funny. Great casting, great script, funny dialogue and good directing. The wonderful thing about this whole flick -- Woody Allen decided NOT to be in it. One of his better decisions he's made in years. (Thanks for giving us a break and breather from your repeatible and stale roles Woody!) Don't miss this little-known gem.

Were they trying to make a movie that makes no sense?
I'm not stupid, but this movie made no sense whatsoever. I didn't understand one bit of the boring, mindless conversations, characters, their purpose, etc. And a plot..? Don't even ask. This "sophisticated" comedy (where they got comedy I'll never know as this wasn't the least bit funny) was dull, shallow entertainment. The theme I got out of this movie was "You're not always who you think you are." A theme that could have easily been told in half the time it took this long, dragged out film. Don't believe what the critics say about this. Siskel and Ebert rated it two thumbs up but what do they know? They gave Gosford Park (warning: stay away) the same rating (Actually, that last one was Ebert and Roeper, but they're basically the same). Take my advice and rent something that wasn't directed by Woody Allen. Every one of his movies I've had the nerve to sit through entirely (without falling asleep or turning it off), have been a complete waste of my time. I kept waiting for the ending thinking (and hoping) it would make the movie. It didn't. Those who enjoyed this movie obviously classify it as a work of art much like Shakespeare: boring, but a masterpiece nonetheless. The only reason to watch this movie (by renting it, NOT buying it) is to see the always brilliant Diane Weist in her Oscar-winning performance.

decent
this movie was enjoyable, but not the best woody allen i've seen.