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In Broadway Danny Rose, A few comedians get together, late one night, in a Deli, to talk about the good old days, and have a few laughs together. One of the comedians brings up a man by the name of Danny Rose, a truly unique person that always gets a laugh when brought up. We learn Danny Rose was once a comedian, but didn't make it and became a theatrical agent. Apparently what you do when you fail as a comedian.

He's no ordinary theatrical agent, I'll tell you that. What makes Danny Rose so fascinating is his pure enthusiasm towards his wacky talents. He has a one legged tap dancer, a blind xylophone player, a lady who makes music with glasses, and that's just a few of them. Let me interject something here: He doesn't just see these people playing in joints, he vision's them playing in colleges, folding balloons on Broadway.

Danny Rose is Allen's most vibrant, optimistic, wonderful character willing to fight for the underdog. He strikes gold when the nostalgia craze kicks in, and a singer known for a few hits in the 50s, becomes his prized possession.

He gets the guy a gig here, a gig there, an appearance on some local talk show. Then he suddenly finds an opportunity to get him some big gigs. Unfortunately, the man's a chronic drinker, also having an affair. One day, before the big show, Allen must fix a few knots with the women he's having the affair with, played wonderfully by Mia Farrow. While doing so, Danny Rose finds himself in quite the predicament with the mob, connected to Farrow's character. He's just the beard suddenly mistaking as Farrow's lover. It's another example of Allen tackling the meaning of life and the structure of things. Why does a guy with such a clean conscience, such a wonderful heart, find himself in such a nasty position with low lives? Before Allen became a part of the most controversial celebrity scandals of the 90s, he made light hearted, wonderful, optimistic movies in the 1980s like Zelig, Purple rose of Cairo, Radio Days, Hannah and her sister, etc. The movies ultimately had characters fighting to beat the odds. If it was Cecilia in Purple Rose of Cairo fighting the depression or the family in Radio Days fighting the time in general, Allen always made his characters journeys beautiful, nostalgic, funny and light hearted. Broadway Danny rose is a perfect example of how happy Allen's movie making was at the time.

In the end, Allen ends the movie with what is, probably, his most beautiful, touching optimistic ending. I just love Broadway Danny Rose; it's just a beautiful, funny, sweet, light hearted movie that puts a huge smile on my face every time. Can I just interject one statement? Go see Broadway Danny Rose. I promise you'll love every minute of it.

A wonderful movie about celebrity meeting normality. Nothing Hill stars Hugh Grant, as a book store owner, whose life is changed when an international movie star, Anna, played by Julia Roberts, walks into his book store. By fate, William collides into Anna knocking his lunch all over her. William offers Anna the opportunity to clean up in his flat across the way. Anna agrees.

Suddenly William has an international celebrity in his house. He desperately tries to keep her there by offering everything in his refrigerator. Anna leaves, but comes back and they kiss. Seems a bit Hollywood, am I right? No, I'm wrong. Nothing Hill's a wonderful film from start to finish. William tracks Anna down, and they start dating.

The movie basically has the same premise as Woody Allen's wonderful Purple rose of Cairo, even though Purple rose leans more towards fantasy than reality. Both movies contain quiet, humble, perfectly normal people confronted by celebrities.

Nothing Hill perfectly nails the relationship between celebrity and normality. Not just on a romantic level, but on a general level as well. In a wonderful scene, Anna's invited to William's sisters Birthday party. At the table, she's filled with happiness and joy by how happy, and simple it is to be normal. Opposed to living the false life of celebrity. I'm sure 98 percent of society would love to be in Anna's position, but maybe being a celebrity is not what is appears to be. Not everyone thrives off celebrity, getting a great deal of pleasure out of the shallowness of fame and fortune. Not everyone worships their own celebrity status like the Paris Hilton's of the world.

But on a romantic level, Nothing Hill succeeds amazingly as well. Just seeing William and Anna walk down the road, sit together, in a restaurant together, has amazingly wonderful charm to it. It's easy to put your self in William's shoes and feel his pleasure and excitement, basically why I loved this movie so much. I felt William's excitement the same way Cecilia felt everyone's on screen in the Purple Rose of Cairo. I escaped my own normal existence through William's wonderful situation with Anna.

It must be every man's dream, especially a humble man like William's, to have a beautiful superstar walk into their life and fall in love with them. Oh, how'd I love for Natalie Portman to walk into my bookstore and kiss me. It won't happen, because A) I don't have a book store, and B) because reality bites. But why not dream? Anyway, William and Anna fall in love, share intimate moments, and the shallowness of celebrity mixes in. Anna pisses me off towards the end of the movie when the paparazzi show up at Williams's door snapping a photo of him in his boxers with her upstairs. Anna suddenly puts her career before the likes of William. Anna leaves, William mopes around, but his flat mate and sister track down Anna for him.

Of course, William tracks Anna down on a movie set a few months later after she wins an academy award, which Roberts would win in reality a year later for Erin Brockovich, but mistakenly hears her say a rather rude remark about him. Little does he know it was in character. But Anna, once again, returns to Williams's book store, confesses her love for him, he turns her down, his friends make him realize how dumb of a mistake it was, and then he tracks her down at a press conference. And they live happily ever after.

Of course, in reality, this probably wouldn't happen. But why couldn't it? Why can't celebrities and every day people fall in love? Like Anna says, she's just a small town girl. Nothing Hill's a wonderful movie no matter how you look at it. Everything about it's perfect. Julia Robert's and Hugh Grants best work. 10-10

What a powerful and honest movie this is. While non fiction films with screenwriters and actors try so hard to fit in honesty while creating touching scenes and making you believe in the characters, Hoop Dreams does it better than any film I've seen with little effort. While watching it, all the hairs on my body stick up and I get tears in my eyes every time. I've never seen a more touching movie about real people attempting to overcome the odds in my life. It's because we know the reality lives beyond the camera. Unlike films like Rocky, Hoop Dreams actually follows underdogs who stay underdogs after the camera turns off making it even more touching and profound.

Following Arthur Agee and William Gates, Hoop Dreams begins when they're young kids just playing basketball on the school yards. Scouts from prestigious middle schools, their families can't afford, are sent there to find pure talent on the courts. A scout finds Arthur presenting him the opportunity to go to Saint Josephs with a basketball scholarship. Arthur is confident he will make it to the NBA. He even says so whenever he sees the shoe commercials and won't let his mom or anyone else discourage him with the harsh reality.

After meeting Isiah Thomas and playing him one on one in awe, Arthur is kicked out of Saint Josephs on account of his low grades and not being able to afford it. His coach, at Marshall, says "it doesn't take a genius to realize he was kicked out because he didn't play like they expected him to play. They would have worked something out if he played like they expected him to play" (not an exact quote)

Meanwhile, Arthur's transferred back to Marshall while William becomes a sensation on the court. Hoop Dreams also follows the families attempting to survive in the tough Neighborhood. Williams brother is an ex ballplayer who's living his dream through William. He gets a job as a security guard and feels he has amounted to nothing. William even says, after he learns he will not make it to the NBA "Sometimes I feel Curtis should stop living his dream through me". Stuff like that is what makes Hoop Dreams incredible. Arthur's father starts dealing drugs, but repents. The harsh realities also kick in on the court. Junior year, while in his prime, William has an unexpected leg injury. He gets numerous operations and even misses most of a season. Although he gets some major scouts attentions at a basketball camp, the leg prevents him from playing to his highest potential ever again. His dreams of NBA basketball, day by day, become more a dream than reality. Meanwhile, Arthur is playing great basketball but his grades are low. He will not excel in his school work like he does on the court.

Senior year, Arthur and his underdog commandos make it down to the state finals and overcome the odds. William gets into Marquette University and obviously is not very excited about it. Hoop Dreams is by far the most touching film I have had the privilege of watching. It's amazing to watch two kids and two families attempt to overcome the odds and accomplish a dream. Anyone can relate to this film, not just basketball players. Watching two kids do something they love and get rewarded for it is a magical experience for not only them, but for us as well. Even the disappointment they endure hit us where it hurts. Hoop Dreams shows the harsh realities, unlike many Hollywood films. Arthur and William never make it professionally, they miss important foul shots, and they end up at colleges they have no interest in.

This, of course, is all a part of life. By showing all of this Steve James creates something really special that lives beyond the camera entering your heart. Hoop Dreams is one of the greatest movies ever made. You might think i'm overstating it, but 3 hours of this movie opened me to things in life no Hollywood movie has dared to try. While most movies work so hard to touch your emotions moving you with fake situations and unbelievable twists of fate, Hoop Dreams does it for 3 hours and more with such a subtle effort.10-10 for this miracle of a movie!! Sorry about the long review, I just love this film!

Every once in a while a film comes along that simply electrifies you and pushes the cinematic experience to the highest level of enjoyment. Adaptation is one of those films. It's a huge accomplishment on all levels reaching some of my greatest emotions while entertaining me like no other film.

Adaptation is a complex but also realistic account of what people go through creatively. The film follows a writer Charlie Kaufman, played by Nicolas Cage, who is assigned to adapt a book about orchids from a book written by an author by the name of Susan Orlean played by Meryl Streep. The film jumps back in forth beetween Charlies struggle to adapt the book and Susan's struggle to write it while getting the information for it from a weird man by the name of John Laroche.

The film jumps back in forth beetween these three people struggling to find meaning in life. Susan's goal is to dedicate herself to something and have that feeling of love and connection to it. Charlie's goal in the film is to connect with Susan while adapting her book.

Describing this film is nearly impossible to do considering it incorporates so many elements and breaks into so many genres. Jonze and Kaufman create one of the most original and thought provoking films I've ever seen. It's amazing to be in the hands of two artists with three of the greatest actors around all giving Oscar worth performances. I don't have much more to say about Adaptation. Of course, I could walk you through the plot but that would be like walking you through a trip through the stars. This film is endless and you will not see a film anytime soon that electrifies your emotions and feelings. Just watch these two masters at the pinnacle of their creativity and be amazed. 10-10

After a few hit and miss, pure comedic effort, Allen's new film Anything Else follows a young comedic writer Jerry, played by Jason Biggs, through his life in New York and his relationship with a neurotic girl named Amanda played wonderfully by Christina Ricci. Amanda and Jerry meet through a double date falling in love instantly sharing many similar tastes in music in art plus a neurotic edge. Only, Jerry is a totally different person with a more down to earth simple desire than Amanda. Their relationship goes sour when Amanda's no longer sexually turned on by Jerry, In fact, she won't even try having sex with him believing he reminds her too much of her dad. Meanwhile, Jerry takes advice from his friend David, a psychotic, over paranoid writer who coaches David through life with some odd philosophic opinions. Their relationship doesn't do much progressing. Amanda's even more neurotic mother moves in taking over his writing room. David pretty much loses hope in all areas of life; even his shrink will not give him advice. The only person on his side is a nut case.

Still, Amanda doesn't want to call of the relationship, she feels she is not capable of living without Jerry. She's a contradictive person, one day she doesn't want Jerry to leave, the next she is trying to hook him up with her friend Connie.

Whether Woody likes it or not, it's inevitable that Anything else will be compared to his masterpiece Annie Hall in more bad ways than good. The similarities are striking: Amanda is basically a contemporary Annie Hall, only, ditsier and less intellectual. Their sex life is awful but at least Annie would try a little, and Jerry lacks the edginess and will to try new things, a lot like Alvy. Unfortunately, Anything Else should have been a much better movie than it is. Allen is the greatest romantic director of all time but here is unable to show it because Amanda and Jerry lack chemistry making it difficult for him to weigh the romantic aspects with a couple that has nothing in common, what so ever. It takes a psychotic, neurotic David to finally convince Jerry to spy on her. He sees Amanda kissing her acting teacher. Of course, when jerry confronts Amanda, she claims she only did it to see if she was still capable of being turned on sexually. Can a woman and man actually be together without a satisfying sexual relationship and survive completely on pure love? Sure they can, but they need more in common than Amanda and jerry Allen is the reason I really enjoyed watching this film, if you enjoy Allen's neurotic insights on philosophy and life, you will definitely be satisfied here with Allen playing his most neurotic character to date even smashing two jerks car windows in the funniest scene in the whole movie. Ultimately, Anything else would be a much better film if it was a debut of a young director. But, with the greatest romantic director behind the greatest romantic film of all time, it's tough to compensate for that without making something great. I enjoyed this movie because it's a good effort from Allen and everyone involved is A plus. Only, I wish Allen put some more time into the positive aspects of the relationship, that way I could have been more dedicated to their relationship.

In the 1980s, many in the music industry feared that MTV would kill the radio star and music videos would be the output for hot new musicians, they were wrong. MTV didn't kill the radio star, but it also didn't help teenager's minds along with views on life. Heathers show's teens in the midst of the MTVera in high school. It focuses on a young girl, Veronica who is in the most popular group called the Heathers. However, she is also the outcast of the group.

She doesn't really like her friends or her life very much despite having everything a teenage girl can desire. But she is forced to fit in anyway; she really has no solution to her popularity. Why should she, isn't popularity the Holy Grail of High School? Suddenly everything changed when an outsider by the name of J.D.(played by a young, extremely versatile Christian Slater) moves to town catching Veronica's eye across the CAF. Unlike Veronica, J.D. doesn't fear the importance of current high school popularity He represents everything Veronica aspires for but won't do on account of her reputation as a Heather.

They both form a relationship becoming very close "friends" sharing their views on the whole high school scene and the contemporary social issues. It's all fine until J.D. puts poison in Heathers drink, the leader of the Heathers and Veronica's enemy leading to Heathers death. To get away with it, they fake a suicide note written by Veronica forging Heather's name on it forcing an uproar baffling the whole School. How can a girl so popular be so unhappy, and why would she commit suicide? Suddenly the media and the school get in to it; suicide suddenly becomes the hot new topic at school from the media, to the classmates, to the staff. J.D. tricks Veronica into killing the two biggest jocks at school. The whole scene is dark satire at its best. "Is that mineral water?" Suddenly many popular kids start attempting suicide simply to fit in escaping the hell's of 80s High School. If the most popular girl and two most guys do it, shouldn't the average kid's? The whole thing turns into a huge issue inspiring some of the best satire ever put to screen. Heathers show's the satire like no High School movie has every attempted.

The 80s was a great decade for teen comedies. John Hughes was, of course, the king creating the brat pack. Cameron Crowe had a few of them too, but there is no teen comedy as daring and satirical as Heathers. The whole film gave me Goosebumps compelling me like no teen movie I have ever seen in my life. Winona Ryder is amazing. She's the closest thing to Holden in Catcher in the rye that I've seen.

I just wanted to kiss her the whole time. I'm in High School, I know how tough it can be to fit in with kids constantly trying to be popular with everyone being classified by their looks, wealth, where they sit in the Cafeteria. It's very petty and short but to many kids, it's the most important time of their lives and it can also be the worst. Fortunately, my generation has become a bit more accepting.

Bullying usually stops by High School today, but still occurs ruing many kid's lives. Heathers shows how popularity plus fitting in can affect everyone from the popular to the average and it does it in such a dark and intriguing way. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Mean Girls but wanted more. Rachael McAdam's in Mean Girls is a pale comparison to Heather Chandler's pure shallow, vain, bitchy attitude and she enjoys every second. You won't believe where Heahter's takes you. The 80s was a tough time to fit in. Growing up with MTV making kids more shallow with materialism becoming their pride possession. Heathers show's exactly what it all can lead to. 10-10!!!

It's been said, but for a while one of the best filmmakers of the 20th century has been staggering with mediocre films not nearly up to his potential. But finally Allen has returned to the game with a subtle but perfectly done thriller which allows him to reinvent himself and discover new terrain like a brand new filmmaker.

Match Point offers a simple but powerful message that luck plays a huge part in everyday life which to a major extent is true. Luck plays a huge part in Chris Wiltons life when he gets a job as a tennis trainer at a fancy club and meets Tom, the son of a rich business man. Tom invites Chris to an opera where he meets Chloe, the sister of Tom. From there, Chris and Chloe start to date and Chris, a small and unwealthy man, gets introduced to high society life. He's offered a high stakes job, a personal driver, etc, just to bring happiness into the life of Chloe.

Chris is perfectly content until he meets the beautiful Nola, played by Scarlett Johansson. Nola is everything Chloe is not, exciting, extremely sexy, and unwealthy, which leads to Chris's dilemma. Nola and Chris begin an affair that leads to even more once Tom dumps Nola giving Chris the opportunity to live out all his sexual desires with a beautiful woman, but the high life of Chloe overpowers the little ambitions and lack of money. Match Point is about luck but also about choices made in life for personal enjoyment. Is it better to be rich and not completely satisfied or poor and happy? As a failure, Chris finds luck with Chloe's rich family willing to set him up with whatever he desires.

The film is very similar to Woody's 1989 masterpiece Crimes and Misdemeanors and it takes similar turns. Chris gets himself in the situation where he must choose from a small life with a woman he is satisfied and turned on by or choose a high society life with a woman he barely loves and lacks attraction to. I won't tell you what he chooses, but I will tell you the dilemma leads Allen to his most satisfying, tense, engaging film in over a decade.

It's great to see Allen take such a simple premise, used several times, and put all his trademark qualities into it mixed with a discovery of new terrain. Match Point is an engaging, entertaining film that gives you a taste of the high life and shows you what it can lead a man to. 10-10 for this excellent film by the great Woody Allen. Let's hope this is a revelation for Allen returning him to morality film-making.

In 1977, Woody Allen reached new heights with his academy award winning hit, Annie Hall, and was rewarded with 2 Oscars. He followed it up with Interiors, a dark, melodramatic film with virtually no comedy without Woody Allen in front of the camera. It was rewarded with 5 academy award nominations, but received ultimately terrible reviews and flopped.

But the reputation Interiors has earned through the years doesn't mean it's not a masterpiece of sprawling proportions. The movie Interiors is certainly the most uncompromising drama I have ever witnessed from any American director. It's honest, dark, characters randomly stare into oblivion, and it's just bluntly realistic without any remorse. This all came from the same guy that had Gene Wilder having sexual relationships with a sheep 5 years prior, and a reputation as a pure comedic director.

It's hard to recommend a film like this, even to Allen fanatics. If you don't admire ART, it could resemble paint drying. Allen takes an uncompromising route with these characters, never letting an ounce of remorse drip from his story. But it works quite well as a study on Human behavior, and what can happen to families with materialistic possessions, without love. The scene with Diane Keaton's character, in the analyst, is one of the finest scenes from an Allen film. She confesses her own obsession with immortality through her work, a huge theme in Interiors. Characters to genius to enjoy the simple things in life. They're all way too concerned with immortality.

Interiors is not really a classic, but it is one of the best dramas ever made. It's so bleak and melodramatic, but I loved every minute of it. Allen's a genius when it comes to analyzing his characters. Unlike Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah and her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors, etc, Interiors doesn't contain enough mixture of comedy and drama to keep you interested in the characters development. The pure melodrama dooms these characters from the beginning leaving you without any hope in them changing.

I still give Interiors 9 stars for the blunt honestly, but I refuse to give it classic status on account of the relentless melodrama. I'd recommend Hannah and Her sisters for a more optimistic view on family life, and immortality. Still an underrrated masterpiece.