RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Bullets Over Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
96 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:53

Fresh:51

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.9/10

Consensus: Some of Allen's sharpest, most inspired late-period comedy.

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: David Shayne (John Cusack, in performance his character that of a young Woody Allen) is an idealistic young playwright whose life (and play) is about to be turned upside down as it heads toward... David Shayne (John Cusack, in performance his character that of a young Woody Allen) is an idealistic young playwright whose life (and play) is about to be turned upside down as it heads toward Broadway. In order to gain financing for GOD OF OUR FATHERS, Shayne agrees to hire Olive Neal (a wonderfully high-squeaking Jennifer Tilly), the actress/girlfriend of Nick Valenti, a potential backer--who also happens to be a gangster. Unfortunately, the lass proves to be not only talent-free but ditzy to boot, a hindrance since she is supposed to play a psychiatrist. But Cheech, Olive's hoodlum bodyguard, proves to be more intuitive artistically than anyone would suspect, as his contributions improve not only Olive's performance but the quality of the flailing play as well. Meanwhile, Shayne must contend with an odd assortment of actors, including the neurotic Eden Brent, with her omnipresent, yapping dog; the pompous Warner Purcell, a corset-wearing overeater; and haughty leading lady Helen Sinclair (a fabulous Dianne Wiest), the aging, boozing diva with whom Shayne begins a romance. The laughs keep coming like rapid machine-gun fire in this riotous Woody Allen farce. [More]

Starring: John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Tilly, Jack Warden

Starring: John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Tilly, Jack Warden, Chazz Palminteri, Rob Reiner, Mary-Louise Parker, Harvey Fierstein, Jim Broadbent, Tracey Ullman, Joe Viterelli, Debi Mazar, Tony Sirico

Director: Woody Allen

Director: Woody Allen
Screenwriter: Woody Allen, Douglas McGrath
Producer: Robert Greenhut

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Apr 20, 1999

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Bullets Over Broadway
  • Big city mobsters and the Broadway stage collide hilariously in this side-splitting all-star comedy that had audiences and critics rolling in the aisles! John Cusack (HIGH FIDELITY) stars as David Shayne, an idealistic young writer who'll do anything to get his first Broadway play off the ground -- even if it means teaming up with the mob! Surrounded by a wacky cast of characters including a gangster's ditzy girlfriend (sexy Jennifer Tiley, MADE IN AMERICA), a tipsy actress (Dianne Wiest, PARENTHOOD), and a mob hit man (Chazz Palminteri, A BRONX TALE), Shayne's got to pull it all off before the curtain falls and bullets start to fly!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Bullets Over Broadway

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    A sharp, fast, laugh-out-loud comedy.

    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    08/12/08
    Channel 4 Film

    [A] deft period farce, his most enjoyable movie in years.

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    08/12/08
    TV Guide's Movie Guide

    The performances, however, are very enjoyable, with first honors going to Chazz Palminteri and Dianne Wiest.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
    08/12/08
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A backstage comedy bolstered by healthy shots of prohibition gangster melodrama and romantic entanglements.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    07/31/08
    Todd McCarthy
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Woody Allen at his finest. Wiest is sensational.

    comment Comment
    04/19/08
    Clint Morris
    Clint Morris
    Moviehole

    Overrated.

    comment Comment
    11/20/07
    Cole Smithey
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/24/07
    Brian Tallerico
    Brian Tallerico
    UGO

    No! Don't speak! See it!

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Time Out

    Essentially a backstage comedy about artists and gangsters in 1920s New York, the film doesn't break any new ground but it's pleasantly amusing and benefits from charming turns from Diane Wiest as the grand dame and John Cusack as the young artist.

    Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
    05/08/06
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    You can watch Bullets Over Broadway with the sound off and have a thrilling time. You can listen to it from the next room and achieve total bliss.

    Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
    01/24/06
    Nick Davis
    Nick Davis
    Nick's Flick Picks

    One of Allen's best. Don't speak!

    comment Comment
    11/02/05
    Michael A. Smith
    Michael A. Smith
    Nolan's Pop Culture Review

    Great fun all around.

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    10/27/05
    Christopher Null
    Christopher Null
    Filmcritic.com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/10/05
    Chuck O'Leary
    Chuck O'Leary
    Fantastica Daily

    The best movies Woody Allen made in the '90s by a fairly large margin.

    comment Comment
    09/10/05
    Dan Fienberg
    Dan Fienberg
    Zap2it.com

    Clever comedy isn't Allen's best work, but it's still fun.

    comment Comment
    08/23/05
    James Plath
    James Plath
    DVDTown.com

    Allen's last great comedy.

    comment Comment
    08/18/05
    Rob Thomas
    Rob Thomas
    Capital Times (Madison, WI)

    allen's actual best film

    comment Comment
    04/27/05
    Karina Montgomery
    Karina Montgomery
    Cinerina

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    04/08/05
    Lori Hoffman
    Lori Hoffman
    Atlantic City Weekly

    An amusing and clever parody of the hypocrisies of the Broadway theater.

    Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
    03/24/05
    Dennis Schwartz
    Dennis Schwartz
    Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/24/05
    Michael E. Grost
    Michael E. Grost
    Classic Film and Television
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    66% 66% Public Enemies
    83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
    75% 75% Julie & Julia
    32% 32% Terminator Salvation

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
    78% 78% The Hangover
    49% 49% Taking Woodstock
    26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
    47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    James Cameron

    James Cameron

    We look at the Avatar director's career

    Alice in Wonderland

    Alice in Wonderland

    Check out the brand new trailer now!

    Golden Globes

    Golden Globes

    Up in the Air leads with 6 noms!

    Nominee Gallery

    Nominee Gallery

    See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
    22
    • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
    0
    • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
    17
    • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
    28
    • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
    28
    • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
    9
    • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
    4
    • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
    61
    • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
    8
    • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
    26
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
    236
    • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
    140
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
    70
    • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
    44
    • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
    40
    • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
    38
    • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
    33
    • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
    30
    • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
    21
    • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Tron Legacy, and more!
    20
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    21
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    2
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    12
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    23
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    15
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    23
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
    • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
    28
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Bullets Over Broadway at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    MSN's Year in Review
    MSN's Year in Review External Link

    Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

    40 Best Films of the 2000s
    40 Best Films of the 2000s External Link

    Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

    Tarantino's Characters
    Tarantino's Characters External Link

    Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

    10 Questions For Zac Efron
    10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

    The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

    Top 20 of the Decade
    Top 20 of the Decade External Link

    Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.