It sure is a hell of a town

New York New York is a film I wanted to check out for many reason. It was a musical made in the 70's. It's directed by Martin Scorsese, right after he did Taxi Driver and the fiction film made before Raging Bull. It always was a huge bomb and put Scorsese in a deep depression because of it's failure, both commercially and critically.
Well to be honest it's not a bad movie it just needs to be cut down. The cut I saw was the long cut 163 minutes. I'm aware of a shorter cut but it cuts out a really amazing musical number. What I think needs to be done to make this film better is to cut some of the drama that was at the first 2 hours of the film. the songs work there is just to much of the other stuff.
Regardless there is a good movie in there Scorsese uses is film encyclopedia brain to good use. by showing several references to musicals perticaully mgm ones from the early 50's. All though he couldn't film it in Technicolor he did a really amazing job in trying to make it look like it was. and in some shots it's hard to tell it isn't. he tryed to do a similar thing in the aviator and i thought it sucked but this was awesome.
There also is a noir feel and Scorsese himself called it a noir musical. I agree, with it's dark tone it shows the two contrasting styles of the time together.
This film is also where the famous song new york, new york came from. which sinatra would later cover. bet you didn't know that. also intresting fact that the orignal new york new york De Niro didn't like and told the writers to re toll it and that is waht we hear today the writers of that song have said they are very greatful for this.
Also it stars Liza Minelli who does a awesome job.

This is a good Scorsese and if you've seen a lot of musicals you'll like it. it is slow at the begining but you'll love it by the end. but I know tons hate it so I guess maybe at your own discresion but really i liked it for what that's worth.