Bullets Over Broadway [DVD]

`Bullets Over Broadway' by Woody Allen proves that one of Allen's strengths as a writer is in conceiving of implausible premises such as `Zelig', `Purple Rose of Cairo', and this movie and making them seem very real, and in building some very big jokes out of the situation. I believe this is the first movie done after the very messy breakup with Mia Farrow and the scandal with their young adopted daughter. This coincides with a change in studio with the move to Miramax and a relatively fresh crop of actors. While Allen's work seems much fresher after the somewhat weak `Shadows and Fog', there seems to be no inhibitions from the Weinsteins of Miramax on Allen's style. Aside from an executive producer added to the masthead, joining Rollins and Joffre, there is little change in Allen's senior creative team and the movie seems to be as fresh or fresher than Allen has been for a while.In some ways, the plot is a parody of 1940's film noir renditions of 1920's gangsters, with Chazz Palminteri and Joe Viterelli playing up the Sicilian goodfellas roles as if they just stepped out of a Martin Scorsese flick. Harvey Fierstein also basically plays his stock flaming gay supporting role famously exercised in the movie `Independence Day'. Tracy Ullman also plays a familiar toy dog toting semifamous Broadway actress, contrasting well against Dianne Wiest's rendition of the lead character straight out of `Sunset Boulevard', the fading star who is reluctant to take a part in a play by a new writer, in spite of three miserable flops in a row and no other prospects in the works. (Wiest won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for this performance). Jim Broadbent plays the male stereotype of a faded Broadway actor whose weakness, temporarily overcome, is food and his waistline. Jennifer Tilly is about as close as you can come to a female lead playing against all the talent shown by Wiest and Ullman, but she carries of the role of a classic dumb blond moll (to mob boss Viterelli) who wants to be an actress. Rob Reiner does well in a small part as an idealistic unpublished unperformed dramatist. Mary Louise Parker seems a bit wasted, although I'm sure she was not as well known in 1994 as she is now, after several seasons in an important guest role on `The West Wing'. Jack Warden is sort of the anchor to the film, reminding you that we are dealing with the business of producing a Broadway play. John Cusack has the nominal male lead, shared somewhat with Palminteri, as the struggling dramatist / director whose play is picked up by `godfather' Viterelli who underwrites the cost of the production in order to provide his girlfriend a role on Broadway.Looked at sideways, the story may seem like an alternate take on the story of Elmore Leonard's `Get Shorty' with Palminteri in the Travolta role. In fact, Travolta would have made a great choice for Palminteri's part in `Bullets...'. But, it is really a very different brand of comedy, patented by Allen long before `...Shorty' was a gleam in Leonard's eye.In many ways, once the basic premise is laid out, there is nothing very surprising about where the story goes. And, one develops relatively little empathy for any of the main characters, as you do for Mia Farrow's character in `Shadows and Fog' and `Purple Rose of Cairo', for example. But the road taken to get to the ending is filled with more than its share of funny moments. This may even be considered Allen's answer to Mel Brooks' `The Producers', although while `The Producers' is one of Brooks' two best movies, this is not among Allen's top five.If one were to graph Allen's movie content for humor versus pathos, this would be among the highest in humor and lowest in pathos. It would certainly be one of his best-crafted recent movies.Easily rewatchable. But, even with the change to Miramax, there are virtually no extras.

Well, if you are not a Woody Allen fan or wondered what a Woody Allen film might be like without him appearing in it, this might be your ticket. If anything, this film might be a bit tad too much of an "insiders Theatre" kind of joke, but for my money, any way you cut it, it is a hysterical film, and has at it's heart two magnificent comedic brilliant performances by Diane Wiest, and Jennifer Tilly [and I believe that Ms. Wiest won a totally deserved Academy Award that year (1994) for Best Supporting actress]. Please note that I am about to comment on the European BluRay releases of this film which requires an all region player for viewing here in the States. I first bought the French edition, which I found extremely good looking; especially after the almost unwatchable DVD. Only problem was that it had the French subtitles which were not removable.And as I really love this film, I plunked down more money to try the German release, and that subtitle problem did not exist. I am guessing the source for both of these was the same. There is no information on whether this was any kind of restoration, or 2K or 4K, but both looked great; maybe perhaps the French version was a degree clearer, but negligible, really. The colors were great, lots of clarity. Some film grain. The basic color palette seems to be oranges and browns and blacks, but the 1920's atmosphere pops, as does details and colors on the costumes. I'm glad to have an all region player for these films that do not have an USA release in BluRay, although this one is now available in a box set here in the States.

This is not the best in movie making. There are, as they say in live theater, problems in the second act.What matters is that director and coauthor Woody Allen takes for granted that you have intelligence and are willing to think. The best laugh lines require you to pay attention, they go fast. Most of them are in the beginning. The first 15 minutes of the movie include a series of set ups for great one lines, each tossed out amidst high speed overlapping conversations. By 20 minutes in the humor becomes rare.By this point the purpose of the movie is to demonstrate the high contrast between thinking and talking a certain way and living it. Artists like to talk about the right of artists to make their own morality. Mobsters live that life, mostly without thinking about it.The actual plot of the movie involves an up and coming serious writer of serious plays. The only way he can get money for his play is 1) accepting mobster money and with it the condition that 2.) the mob boss's girlfriend- a no talent showgirl with a terrible voice and no brains has a leading role.The deal with the devil is accepted and the play goes into production and (surprise) re-write. Much of the rest of the next hour is fairly stock scenes of the producing of a play. This portion of the movie would be a drag, except that the rest of the cast provide a flow of wonderful acting and the writing is just original enough that what are stock scenes have words and acting that keep you involved.There is a marked shift to the dramatic as a harsh reality forces you the viewer and the playwright to understand the real questions of this movie.Paying attention and you can see Woody Allen and co-writer Douglas McGrath making sharp digs into the pretensions of artist, leftist coffee house intellectuals and everyone who confuses schooling with learning. There is a side show debate over the love of the artist and love of the person. This too is resolved and not in favor of art.I liked Bullets over Broadway. I also agree with the wife who pronounced it "Weird". You are promised a "Side Splitting Comedy" and that is not what you get. The flow of the movie is uneven, largely because of the need to tell a complex story such that the ending is inevitable. This is not a movie for those looking to relax and be entertained. It is a thinking person's movie.

If you've ever worked in or around the Movie / TV / Music Business you will so appreciate this hysterical movie - I mean you see so much of this crazy behaviour everyday - truly wonderful - watched it loads of times - great to watch to cheer myself up as well !It's been a bit overlooked which is a real pity because it is genuinely so very good - A Very good, complete story and good acting from the entire cast - The casting is so perfect - I can prove what I am saying is true because it got 7 Oscar nominations - Diane Wiest actually winning hers. It's much more difficult to rent now - Blockbuster don't have it but Love Film do.The Blu Ray disc is not really as good a quality as they could have made it but it is definitely better than the regular standard dvd.Do try and watch it a few times because Woody Allen has really packed this movie with an awful lot of great stuff and it's easy to miss.

Loved this film. Perfectly constructed story-line of a young writer trying to get his play performed on Broadway and a hood re-writes most of it for him. Perfect touches of humour 'Don't speak, don't speak.' Perfect casting and acting. Woody Allen at his best. (Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa)

This film reflects the genius of Woody Allen. It is hysterically funny with outstanding performances by a stellar cast. A beautifully filmed period piece and an Oscar Winning performance of Dianne Weist. It is a landmark film of a tempestuous time which shows people's true characteristics.

This is probably my favourite film by Woody Allen. Even more than usual the casting is perfect down to the tiniest character. Plus it is hilarious. Buy it, borrow it, whatever the means, watch it. Now. And last but not least, Mia Farrow doesn't play in it.

Great film by the man Allen starring another great, Cusack.