New York, I Love You 2008

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The film only feels like two or three different sort of approaches are represented. They don't really feel like widely different attacks on the material. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: What's remarkable here is the consistency of the mediocrity, the uniform fraudulence of the minipremises, the reliable awkwardness of such almost-English lines as "Your eyes would suffice to give tired men hope." Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: As with any such project, some of the films are better than others, but most of the entries in New York, I Love You are very good indeed. Read more

Sam Adams, AV Club: Inconsistency is the curse of the anthology film, but the entries in the omnibus New York, I Love You are united by their near-total lack of interest. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: How could so ethnically and artistically diverse a field of filmmakers produce a work of such lifeless uniformity? Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: Even the more predictable prove pleasurable. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: The project is lush and seductive as a whole, though some segments are especially vibrant. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: These tales are as highly designed as fashion layouts. But they're as relaxing to thumb through as those NYT Magazine trend pieces... Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The result, as is always the case with short story collections, is a mixed bag, although unlike Paris Je T'Aime, the duds outnumber the winners this time. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: The result is a curiously bland hodgepodge -- not terribly evocative of such a famous place, and not all that inspiring in the connections it depicts. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: New York, I Love You weaves 10 short, trivial vignettes into one long, irritating whole. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Where's the ethnic diversity? The cultural overflow? The dirt, the chaos, the cramped quarters, the people who look like us, rather than movie stars? Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Yknow a collection of Gotham-themed shorts by international directors is in serious trouble when the most entertaining segment is directed by Hollywood uber-hack Brett Ratner. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Each director had a deadline of two days to complete his segment. The result is every bit as truncated and zigzaggy as you might imagine. The whole thing looks like it was edited with pinking shears. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: The result is a dinner of appetizers that are individually tasty, if not completely satisfying. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Most of the segments are too short and slight to be considered more than inconsequential. They pass and are easily forgotten, although many of them boast O. Henry-style twist endings. Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: Not quite as wonderful as "Pari, je t'aime," but still one of my favorite movies of 2009. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Inevitably, the film is a jumble sale, but you can make some nice discoveries. Read more

Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a bit too arty, and a bit too cute, but it charms and cajoles with the pluck of a native New Yorker. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Because so many of the segments are about young lovers, the standouts involve people past their prime. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: While many of the segments amuse, and rarely wear out their welcome (the average running time is eight minutes apiece), it rapidly becomes apparent that each of them has some kind of twist, like an O Henry short story. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: If you're not a stickler for consistency, this is an effective pastiche and tribute to one of the world's most enticing cities. Read more

John Anderson, Variety: Read more

Jay Weissberg, Variety: The results are, well, formulaic, hobbled by weak dialogue and absent any sense of texture. Read more

Michelle Orange, Village Voice: The most effective entries -- bring both bitter and sweet to their snapshots of this city's most cherished and elusive quality: intimacy. Read more

Philip Kennicott, Washington Post: The characters are all more or less useless, inhabiting the frivolous tippy-top of Maslow's pyramid of needs, with little sense that there's anyone essential at the bottom. It's fun, but decadent. Read more