A Rainy Day in New York

In general I am a fan of Woody Allen movies. I like some better than others but always look forward to his entry for the year because I know I will be treated with something completely different.

This one is very enjoyable, to me better then most of his movies the last 10 to 15 years. The main subjects are a 20-something couple, college kids, who need to go into Manhattan for the weekend. She to interview a film director, he to help show her a good time. However nothing goes as planned and that generates the fun in the movie.

Good movie, I will watch it again. On DVD from my public library. My wife skipped, she is not fond of Woody Allen movies.

APR 2025 update: I just watched it again after 4 years and enjoyed it just as much. Streaming on Prime.

Woody Allen keeps showing why he is one of the best things to ever happen to cinema. Why we need him so much. without Allen, the cinema industry would have been a little boring. His films are unique and very powerful by meaning of beauty, art and emotion. "A Rainy Day in New York" is another perfect example of true art. The film stars with a young couple visiting New York for the weekend and end up in a rainy day full of excitements. The movie feels like another Allen love story from the start: the location of New York, the narrating, the differences between characters, how they fall in love against all chances, and the sweet ending that all viewers wish to have in their lives. When I first saw this film I immediately had a sense of nostalgia towards "Manhattan" and "Annie Hall". All films perfectly connect to each other, not by plot but more in a sense of genre and dialogue. The dialogues in this film are just like in any other of Allen's films, catchy, humorous and with a lot of sense towards life. The cast is amazing: Timothèe Chalamet is wonderful, his character resembles a lot of Allen's performance in his other films. Basically it's the same character but different actor. Selena Gomez is adorable and shines in her role, Elle Fanning is humorous, the entire cast works so well with the genre of the film. Overall I am in love with this film, I enjoyed it so much and I recommend it to everyone, I think this is my new favorite Allen movie.

Lacks any depth, fails to be funny, the dialogues are artificial, and Elle Fanning plays unbearably irritable character. The setting is really beautiful though and Timothée Chalamet is always a pleasure to watch. Overall, not a bad experience but I was hoping for a better story.

Nothing too surprising. This is Woody Allen in Manhattan. "A rainy day in New York" came to me as a rather naive and refreshing way of doing what W Allen does. Gastby and Ashleigh question what they are and what they are becoming. They do that - to my perception - through the eyes of someone of their age. They think but do not overthink. Action immediately follows. They do not get lost in doubts and do not have to deal with an ego bigger than them. They act, they feel, they learn and repeat. They have so much to learn from that one day. I found all three young characters likeable and empowered, and the actors on top of their game (Timothee Chalamet, Elle Fanning and Selena Gomez). I would have loved to spend that day by their side The rain never bothered me anyways.

The movie has quite a strange period feeling and maybe this artistic tool was intentional. Everybody uses smartphones already, but for conversations only. No Twitter, no other social media... Some jokes were actually a bit tasteless, very atypical for Woody Allen. A couple of chuckles throughout the movie, typical Woody Allen. Ellen Fanning had the best lines and she was the best overall. Liev Schreiber was very good also with the material he was given. Cinematography is beautiful and perfect for a rom-com - warm, bright, sparkling and full of colours. Chalamet was just wooden and dull. That was the first performance by him I've seen and I don't want to judge him too early or too harsh but he seems to be extremely overrated. Maybe the right lead for a late Woody Allen film.