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I wanted to see this movie because I wanted to find out what they had made of the jazz standards included in it. I never have like bop, but that quartet scene was one of the enjoyable jazz in the movie. Very lively.
I was trying to make out who Liza Minnelli was trying to sing like. But she seemed like a demo singer even when she was on stage. Grabbing various styles from the various jazz songbirds of the 1940s. I wasn't convinced when she was doing a demo for a Peggy Lee in the studio, which I take to be still in the 1940s. Peggy never developed that really breathy style, that Liza was using in that sequence, till well into the 1950s. Peggy Lee was still experimenting with her own vocal style herself in the 1940s.

The worst Scorsese movie I've seen. Had to turn it off after 45 minutes. Boring story, annoying/unlikable male lead, ugly female lead.

And that's what makes it so annoying - Minnelli's numbers are SO
dynamic, you wish they were in a different film.

It's appalling for everything BUT the musical numbers.
Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!

Sorry, but I agree with the OP - this is one messed up piece of s$%t. A
truly uninvolving, awful movie. It's problems are endless. But let's
just start with the truth: There is not one - NOT ONE - redeeming
personal quality (and being a good musician is not a personal quality) about
Jimmy. Zilch. As such, the viewer is mystified that Francine could fall
for such an a#$hole. It makes no sense. Secondly, there is NO story. At
all. It is just a collecion of overlong scenes connected together.
That somebody decided this terrible piece of pooh needed to be
lengthened (!) to 164 minutes is nothing short of absurd. The opening
scene alone is three times (at least) the length it needs to be. Same
thing with all the following scenes. Deniro and Minnelli are brilliantly
talented and they are wasted with a terrible script, and - frankly -
terrible direction. Minnelli brags in the extras interview that they
adlibbed frequently, with MS giving them a starting point and an
ending point. Boy, does it show. And not to the film's credit.
Leonard Maltin's reference books gives this disaster a star and a half,
pointing out its slight plus - Minnelli's dynamic numbers. But they
are showcased all at once after Dinero leaves Minnelli and their kid
(like a poor man's "Show Boat"), totally throwing the film's narrative
off balance. It's like one has changed the channel - from a bickering
drama to an old Hollywood musical.
A failure on virtually every level and, sadly, it is partly to blame for
destroying Minnelli's film career.
The OP is right: this IS an appalling film.

lol!! right?!

I agree. What did the OP expect, Liza to start singing gospel or like Janis Joplin in a 40's musical?
Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!

Very good point by mtil77-1

Some jazz fusion sh!t, probably.

Wouldn't the "old" sounding jazz and her "old" sounding voice be because of the fact that it was a WWII era film? What kind of modern jazz were you looking for?

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misfire??? Did you mean to say masterpiece?
very underrated Scorsese classic.

I don't find it appalling, but it's certainly a misfire. The thing is, it isn't bad or terrible - it just doesn't come together, just doesn't work.
"In my case, self-absorption is
completely
justified."

Hey Texas Moran!
You sound a bit clueless! You missed a terrific little film!

My favorite spot om IMDB is the message board for "New York, New York."
Nothing new to add tonight except that, OK, yeah there is this:
This thing about Jimmy Doyle being "unlikeable." This fascinates me. It fascinated me in 1977 and even more now.
I thought DeNiro was just dynamite when I first saw this. I was already in the Minnelli cult, but WOW, what a teaming was this!
To summarize for now, I had no problem understanding why Francine Evans put up with Jimmy Doyle. And why she bowed out at the end.
But. What a ride, if you know what I mean.
Musicians. Whaddya gonna do.
Speaking of New York, I hope everyone likes snow.

Completely agree on all the above. It was a terrible boring movie that went nowhere. 0/10 stars.

How could she fall for a guy like Jimmy? Well, at least he was a heterosexual..which is something most of her exhusbands couldn't say.

After three boring hours, I'm supposed to start paying attention?

"Song after song after song after song with no story".
Its a musical so what did you expect exactly? Also, had you bothered to pay attention you may have realized a lot of these songs lyrics actually reflect the goings-on in the film and the De Niro/Minnelli relationship. Nice songs, too.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

It was so damn BORING..I mean the first half hour was DeNiro using one pick up line after another till he finally won over Minneli. Then five minute kissing scene in the cab - Aaauggh - come on - pick up the pace - That's why this movie runs for three long boring hoursMy wife stayed with it while I gave up and took a bath. Then afterwards I was just messing around the house and it seemed like Liza was just singing for a solid hour - song after song after song after song with no story.

sfla,
I mean.. the point? Well how about "YOU ARE AN IDIOT"

I mean What was the point of this movie? Seriously, how would you describe the point?