First Hit: This was a fun, interesting and heartwarming film.
Numerous small films make up this film. Each film provides a view and set of characters you will find in New York.
The thief, the hooker, the charmer, the beautiful wife, the interested husband, the newlyweds, the artist and a hopeful muse, the smooth talker, a father and his daughter and the observer. There are lots of characters in the 11 different stories which meld together and, at times, overlap. But what rings true to this film is that they are all believable.
There is the beautiful Julie Christie as an aged singer thinking about ending her life, but the hotel manager and room service boy give her a sense of peace. There are two scenes taking place outside restaurants where a couple has a conversation while smoking cigarettes. In one conversation perceptions are misconstrued and in another wants and hopes are expressed.
The artist sees a shopkeeper and draws her with an obsession. There is a diamond buyer and seller with affection for each other but neither will know what it is like to live with such a love; their religion and life take them each on a different but joyous path.
A thief takes a wallet and gets confronted by his victim and his girlfriend. There is the old couple, played by Cloris Leachman and Eli Wallach, whose dialogue is real, loving and is filled with the richness of spending 65 years together.
I won’t call out any of the directors or actors for their specific roles. What I will say is that it was wonderful from stem to stern.
Overall: Wonderful feel good film showing sides of New York and the people who live there.