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All Movie Info
Starring:
Dianne Wiest, John Cusack, Jennifer Tilly, Rob Reiner, Chazz Palminteri, Tracey Ullman, Mary-Louise Parker, Joe Viterelli, Jack Warden, Jim Broadbent, Harvey Fierstein, Annie-Joe Edwards
Directed By:
Woody Allen
Written By:
Woody Allen, Douglas McGrath
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Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
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Movie Review by Jarrod
June 20th, 2008
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'Bullets over Broadway' is one of my favorite Woody Allen films. It is a brilliant comedy about a young playwright named David Shayne (John Cusack), who is struggling to bring his latest project to the stage, despite the fact that his producer Julian Marx (Jack Warden) claims no funding is available. David insists he must direct it himself, since others would mangle and misinterpret his work. Julian finds a sponsor, veteran gangster Nick Valenti (Joe Viterelli). Valenti has a condition; however, David must give a major part to his ditzy girlfriend Olive Neal (Jennifer Tilly), whose high-pitched voice and lack of talent presents a dilemma. But, David does manage to secure the commitment of famed actress Helen Sinclair (Dianne Wiest), and British thespian Warner Purcell (Jim Broadbent), along with the perky dog-loving Eden Brent (Tracey Ullman). David's girlfriend Ellen (Mary Louise Parker) is supportive of him, but he neglects her, as he devotes his time to rehearsals and rewrites; he also ends up falling in love with Helen. David has some creative clashes with Cheech (Chazz Palminterri), Valenti's hitman, who is tasked with serving as Olive's bodyguard. So, he sits and watches the play as it unfolds, and suggests that changes have to be made, that David is out of touch with how people really talk, and while David is initially resentful, he comes to realize that Cheech is actually a better writer than he is, with a keen understanding of dialogue and plot structure.
He also learns that Cheech is a ruthless, conscienceless killer, and that as Cheech becomes more possessive of the play, he is willing to eliminate anyone or anything that could potentially ruin it. The presence of Cheech is what elevates the already solid premise of 'Bullets over Broadway'. Palminterri earned an Oscar nomination, and it was well-deserved; he always plays tough mob types, and Cheech is one of his finest creations, he thinks nothing of murder, and has a distorted philosophy that justifies it, since he believes none of his victims are innocent. And no one finds Olive more obnoxious than Cheech. Jennifer Tilly is terrific as the brassy and irritating Olive, who constantly complains about everything, but is charming and endearing despite being a moron. It is amusing to watch as she struggles to pronounce the big words in David's script, fails to grasp the deeper meaning of the thematic content, and is so grotesquely mismatched with the character she is portraying in the play (a psychiatrist). Tilly is indeed one of the great cinematic airheads. Broadbent is wonderful as Purcell, who has a rapacious appetite for both food and women. His relationship with Olive causes problems, since it means that Cheech will have to off him if he does not stop seeing Olive. Cusack is essentially playing the Woody Allen role, and he plays it well. David is neurotic, stubborn, and arrogant, and openly acknowledges it.
The strongest asset is Oscar winner Wiest, as Helen Sinclair. This is a master class comic performance. Helen is a temperamental alcoholic, so in that sense, she channels the personality of Bette Davis, especially from All About Eve, but on the other hand, she is an aging star who may be past her prime, not quite as popular as she once was, but also not exactly relegated to obscurity. In this sense, there are qualities of Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard. Harvey Fierstein is hilarious as Helen's agent, Sid Loomis. Wiest absolutely nails it, and so does Tilly, they provide most of the film's funniest moments. However, there are a few priceless lines uttered by Annie Joe Edwards, as Valenti's black maid Venus. She is more or less a black caricature, notably in speech and dress, but is not intended to be offensive; she is sassy and bold, fearlessly stating her opinions. 'Bullets over Broadway' features some of Allen's sharpest and smartest writing in what proves to be one of his greatest comedic efforts. And it contains a wealth of knowledge and insight into the writing process itself, as well as into the turbulent, demanding, and fierce world of Broadway, where everyone strives for success.
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