Bullets Over Broadway

Bullets Over Broadway

Bullets Over Broadway is definitely something you've never seen before. It's

hard to imagine any other writer in the entire world coming up with the basic

plot that drives the film. Woody Allen takes a humerous concept and allows it to

grow more absurd and surreal with each passing moment. And somehow, by film's

end, the ridiculous seems acceptable. The film has been referred to as a comic

take on the themes explored in Crimes and Misdemeanors, and while a comparison

is interesting, I don't necessarily think it holds up. Bullets Over Broadway is

an entirely unique film, inhabiting a bizarre universe completely its own. While

both films feature the killing of an innocent, if annoying, female character,

the comparison really ends there. Besides, in this film, the character pays for

his murder. Perhaps the more interesting question the film raises is this:

should artists really be willing to kill (or die for) their art?

Of course, you'd never have time to ponder this question while in the midst of

viewing the film. There's simply too much else going on, too many characters and

plotlines to allow you the time to reflect on the underlying questions the film

raises about art. And this is for the best; after all, the film is a comedy.

Allen stayed behind the camera for this film, marking the first time he decided

not to act in one of his own comedies. Though he'd not appeared in any of his

three dramatic films (Interiors, September, Another Woman), he had always made

an appearance of some sort in each of his comedies. It's an intersting choice

that has no real explanation, but definitely ends up being the right decision. I

say this only because John Cusack is wonderful in his Woody-ish lead role. You

don't miss Allen, primarily because of Cusack's built-in charm and the great

chemistry he has with both Dianne Wiest and Chazz Palminteri. Both Wiest and

Palminteri were nominated for supporting Oscars (Wiest won the award), and both

definitely benefited from Cusack's performance.

Bullets Over Broadway tells the story of a young, seemingly talented playwright,

David Shayne (Cusack). As the movie begins, he's having problems raising the

funding for his latest play. In addition, he has no cast to speak of, and a

great deal of self-doubt. His agent finally finds a producer, who happens to be

a powerful gangster. The aging gangster, Rocco,agrees to back the play -- as