[A] deft period farce, his most enjoyable movie in years.
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Tomatometer
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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
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Release:
Apr 20, 1999
Reviews for Bullets Over Broadway
Most of the way this one is a riot, the comedy that Allen fans have been waiting for.
An amusing and clever parody of the hypocrisies of the Broadway theater.
Buzzes with classic one-liners, bright performances and off-the-cuff contemplations about love, art and death.
Woody Allen at his best -- a gem of a Broadway fable with a crafty premise, a raft of brilliant actors at the top of their form and a bouncy, just-for-pleasure attitude.
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.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
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