USA - Top Ten New York Movies

It was difficult to get this list down to ten as there are so many great films based in New York, so I’m going to chuck in a whole whack of honourable mentions.

First honourable mentions are Annie Hall and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, because I haven’t seen them but have reason to believe they’re two of the best…so I’ve heard.

Films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Being John Malkovich didn’t quite make it in either, as they’re great in themselves rather than being specifically NewYorkian.

Here are the ten that, as a complete outsider, make me think statue of liberty, yellow cabs, skyscrapers and a big insomniac of an apple…

King of Comedy (1982)(PG)
Starting with the King of New York New york Robert DeNiro, well, he epitomises the place really in so many classic films. Too many to fit into this little list. I’ve chosen this one over The Godfather films, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, because although they are all amazing (and in ways better than my choice) this Martin Scorsese directed one deserves more recognition than it gets. I'm an advocate of the worthy underdog. And you don't get more underdog than Rupert Pupkin (Pumpkin,,, Pipkin??), an ingenious character. With Sandra Bernhardt, the ultimate bunny boiling stalker (sorry Glenn Close), they seek fame by kidnapping Jerry Lewis, who plays himself with a fabulously dry performance. So many great quotes, “I hope you get cancer!” and black(ish) comedy magic. I put this on at a film night, was shocked that quite a few of my movie buff friends hadn’t already seen it, and it went down a storm!

Man on Wire (2008)(12)
Remember the twin towers? Of course. Well, If you would like to see a film that honours them and is in itself beautiful and astounding, this is the one. It’s a documentary about the French tight-rope walker Philippe Petit, his seemingly impossible dream and the insane lengths he and his friends went to, to achieve it. This brought a tear to my eye from sheer happiness and astonishment at what people are capable of in life. An inspiration!

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)(15)
Al Pacino, another New York pinnacle and with a list of performances worthy of taking all the top ten slots… Donnie Brasko, Carlito’s Way, The Godfather films again. (Serpico? I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing). I’ve chosen Dog Day Afternoon for its quirky plot based on the true story of a Brooklyn bank robbery that went absurdly wrong, and ends up in a messy hostage situation. Sonny (Pacino) and his accomplice Sal (John Cazale) are sincere sympathetic characters, you totally feel their pain as the diabolical drama goes from bad to worse, and the film entertains from start to finish.

Times Square (1980)
Opening with Roxy Music’s ‘Same Old Scene’ I saw this on TV back in the eighties and came across it again recently on youtube. It’s a great punk rebellion film with little rich girl Pamela (Trini Alvarado), not mistreated exactly but misunderstood, meeting an unlikely rough and streetwise friend Nicky (Robin Johnson) and running away on a wreckless adventure to form an underground anti-establishment band ‘The Sleez Sisters’. Also features Tim Curry as a DJ fighting their wild cause. Eighties punk fashion personified. It’s considered a great documentation of Times Square pre clean up policy, before the bad criminal elements were rooted out of the area and shifted elsewhere. And also relevant because of it’s gently implied lesbian theme, which has urged it along to cult status.

Ghostbusters (1984)(PG)
I struggled to decide which of these New York comedies to include here (Splash, Big, Trading Places) but really when it all comes down to it, who you gonna call?? Beloved characters Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond (Dan Akroyd), Egon (Harold Ramis) and Slimer (himself) bring to life this spooky romp which scared the bejaysus out of me when I was a nipper, and made me think twice about opening my fridge for a midnight snack. And who could ever forget the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wreaking havoc in Manhattan?! Sweet!!

After Hours (1985)(15)
Another Martin Scorsese film, Griffin Dunne (think An American Werewolf in London, the rotting Jack) plays Paul Hackett, a simple man, who decides to hook up with a mysterious girl that he met that day (Rosanne Arquette) in Soho Manhattan, and it all goes very very wrong in many bizarre ways. Through a series of weird and unfortunate surreal events, he finds himself public enemy number one fleeing a vigilante mob. Possibly not the best advertisement for tourism mind you.

Do the Right Thing (1989)(18)
Any of these Spike Lee films, Clockers, Crooklyn, Jungle Fever all should be seen, and out of them Do the Right Thing is my favourite. You won't find a much better tension building film than this, the racial melting pot is boiling over on the hottest day of the year and you can almost feel the heat (and from the fridge house I live in, that's really saying something!) The dude with the boombox. Public Enemy's Fight the power. Well worthy of all the accolades given it.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)(15)
Growing up in the eighties, this was my (fashion and musical) bible! I was crazy for that jacket!!! swoon. Uneasy restless housewife and good girl (Rosanne Arquette) gets involved with free spirited bad girl (Madonna) through following an ad in the lonely hearts column. Some amnesia, some very expensive antique earrings, some bad guys and a load of mistaken identities all help towards a lively little tale. Trivia tip: the statue of liberty is covered in scaffolding in the film, as it was being renovated at the time.

Summer of Sam (1999)(18)
I had to give this Spike Lee film a separate mention from the others, as in my mind it ought to have it's own slot. Based on the real life serial killer 'Son of Sam' murders in 1977, Lee explores the elements of fear and scare-mongering in the close knit Italien community of South Bronx. As they are terrorised by these crimes in there midst, they start looking amongst there own neighbours for the culprit. Similar themes to his other films can be seen with the intense heat, and becoming familiar with a small set of characters caught up in an event larger than themselves. The blackout brings the hysteria to a climax, and mob mentality rears it's frightening head. Great tension again, a great drama. I like that it's not a film about the killer, but about human reaction to knowing there is one on the loose.

Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961)(PG)
Utterly charming, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) is a confident sophisticated sixties girl about New York town with shoes in the fridge, a cat with no name, fifty pound tips for the powder room, another hundred dollars for visits to the very nice mafia man Sally Tomato in Sing Sing to talk about "the weather" as conveyed to her by his men in the streets, flirtations with the richest eligible bachelors and wildcat swinging parties. That is until Paul Varjak (George Peppard), the new tenant in her apartment block and aspiring writer, moves in and begins to scratch at the veneer and finds a whole other person underneath. Captivating and endearing, era defining yet timeless.

Mean Streets (1973)(18)
Okay so this is number eleven, Sue Me! I couldn't leave out Harvey Keitel's contributions. Nuff said!... .... Bad Lieutenant.... ok enough!! You get the message it's the city that never sleeps and apparently never stops being the inspiration for great movies either!

USA Top Ten Trilogy Part I - Road Movies

USA Top Ten Trilogy Part III - Califorinia Movies