Review of Bullets Over Broadway (1994) by Miles H — 29 Jan 2008
This must've been a real treat to catch when it was released back in 1994, but nowaday, when we're currently stuck in the "Juno"-land of overly self-conscious comedy, to watch this gem is much like enjoying an aged sirloin (actually, I've never had aged sirloin because aged sirloin costs a shitload of money, but more privileged folk absolutely rave about it).
Anywho, where to begin? Basically, what we've got here is a film that not only works on every aesthetic level, but has deep respect for the power of literary, witty, smart comedy without getting bogged down in any pretension.
It manages to walk the line that Cusack's struggling artist cannot - it has the gutter talk and the intellectual undercurrent to back it up. It's very sure of itself as well. You can tell because it doesn't shove a shotgun down your throat at certain moments and scream, "Laugh, dammit! Laugh!" (there's the second reference to "Juno" in this review, sorry to all fans, really).
"Match Point" was good, but Woody Allen has not made of a film of such strong calibre since "Bullets Over Broadwar" and I sincerely hope he does it again before long.
This review of Bullets Over Broadway (1994) was written by Miles H on 29 Jan 2008.
Bullets Over Broadway has generally received very positive reviews.
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