Autumn in New York

Starring: Richard Gere, Winona Ryder, Anthony Lapaglia, Elaine Stritch, Vera Farmiga, Sherry Stringfield, Jill Hennessey
Directed by: Joan Chen
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance
Box Office: $37,761,915
2000

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A playboy (Richard Gere) meets a woman (Winona Ryder) young enough to be his daughter and immediately falls for her. However, he soon learns she has a heart problem, and only a short time to live. Now, the couple is faced with a very difficult question: is it better to love and lose, or to never love at all

Review:

Tim: This really isn't a bad film. Richard Gere, who's not the greatest actor in the world, but decent nonetheless, is actually quite good at several moments. He certainly is charming, and I'll admit I wish I was as much of a ladies' man as he apparently is in the film. However, the film really focuses on Winona Ryder, who steals the spotlight (steals... get it?? hahahaha). Anyway, she is actually very attractive in the film, and downright beautiful. Her intelligence/shyness makes her appear all the more appealing, and for some reason, you cannot bear to take your eyes off of her. The chemistry between her and Gere is only so-so, but they do have their moments.

The film isn't all that romantic, as Gere's character is pretty much an jerk-the, "Because I felt like it" is a superbly horrible excuse. Despite the somewhat lack of romance, the film is quite sad, due mostly to the likeability of Ryder. When she looks at Gere with those eyes, and you see pain, not just physical pain, but emotional pain as well, and you see in her eyes that she is pleading with life, not wanting to die... you cannot but help allowing your heart to go out to her.

Autumn in New York is overall quite depressing. I don't mean that simply because its about a young girl dying, but its the whole situation on her way out. Sure, she was happy with Gere, but he caused her a lot of unnecessary heartache and pain as well. Overall, the film is sad, and all that comes together in the climactic hospital scene.

If you are going to see this movie, please do it not so much for Richard Gere, who's only a tad bit above average, but do it for Ryder's performance, who, all the stealing jokes aside, makes the film not only watchable, but in many ways, enjoyable.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sweet November, First Knight, Return to Me, Girl,Interrupted