Dig It

From the producers who brought you “Paris, Je T’aime,” a 120-minute tribute to discovering love in Paris, France showcased in several film shorts, “New York, I Love You” takes the hustle and bustle of the familiar East Coast city and reminds us how magical it can truly be. From the benches of Central Park to the crowded streets of Chinatown, each director offers their perception of NYC through the eyes of the city’s everyday inhabitants.

New York, New York has been characterized as the city of dreams, but if you’ve lived there long enough, a sense of jadedness settles in, whether you’ve intended it or not. The land of opportunity quickly becomes a dark sea of sights, sounds and, well... smells. So many learn to either get lost in their noise-cancelling headphones or the humdrum of subway foot traffic and the cacophony of buses and taxis honking. Often, they lose sight of what drew them to the city in the first place. “New York, I Love You” serves as a reminder, highlighting the joys and pains that the little things bring while drawing the characters in to the central theme: Love.

The film follows artists and regular Joes, the elderly and the youth, men and women, in the most simple (and sometimes awkward) of interactions. The young teen on prom night. The elderly couple on a day trip to Coney Island. The young composer struggling to get by. The retired opera singer returning to a favored hotel. Two smokers in a chance encounter on the sidewalk huddled over the flickering flame of a cigarette lighter.

“New York, I Love You” brings a clash of cultures, colors and music, overwhelming the mind with so many sensations, much like the city itself. And it only helps that the film features a familiar cast with Natalie Portman, Shia Laboeuf, Blake Lively, Bradley Cooper, Christina Ricci, Orlando Bloom, Ethan Hawke, Hayden Christiansen and Rachel Bilson just to name a few.

You’ll leave the theatre with a feeling of warmth. There is no over-arching conflict with a single path and a single resolution. There are only slices of life, open-ended but relatable, served with some buttery popcorn and a rather large soda. But if anything, you’ll rediscover your love for the city. And if that’s not your cup of tea, then there’s always the next upcoming blockbuster.

“New York, I Love You” will be available on DVD in February.