NY ♥ NY

Before you quietly start singing LCD Soundsystem to yourself (“New York, I love you, but you’re bringing me downn”), here’s a little disclaimer: this blog post has nothing to do with that song, nor does it have anything to do with the ridiculous reality TV show called “I Love New York.” Rather, I’m talking about the upcoming (early 2009) New York, I Love You film. From the producers of last year’s Paris, je’taime, this new movie has the same structure and theme – it is another anthology of short films about romance and love. Instead of being set in eighteen of Paris’s arrondissements/districts, however, the narratives will take place in New York City’s five boroughs.

I remember how excited I had been to see Paris, je’taime at the very beginning of last summer. And though not all eighteen short films were amazing, there were several phenomenal stories and actors. I actually walked past Rufus Sewell on Broadway and Prince St. about a month ago. He was featured in Wes Craven’s short in Paris, je’taime about an engaged couple that visits Oscar Wilde’s grave. The character’s fiancé struggles with his lacking sense of humor and nonexistent spontaneity.  Oh, but then Oscar Wilde’s ghost gives him some advice.

Natalie Portman, who played a young actress with a blind boyfriend in Paris, je’taime, plays a Hasidic woman named Rifka in New York, I Love You. This time around, she has also taken on a much bigger role as actor/writer/director/producer. Apparently, this movie will mark both her and Scarlett Johansson’s debut as directors. That’s pretty respectable and badass, ladies.

click for more pictures from NY Daily News

Other actors to get excited about include James Caan, Kevin Bacon, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Ethan Hawke, Shia LeBeouf, Rachel Bilson, and Christina Ricci. According to the Wikipedia entry, Blake Lively is also supposed to make an appearance as the mysterious character called, “a girlfriend.” Seems like a primarily young cast.  I’ve always considered NYC to be a place for young people (then again, my opinion is definitely shaped by the fact that my city life consists of college students during the school year and hip young Williamsburg residents in the summer).

Either way, I’d say New York, I Love You has me even more starry-eyed in anticipation than Paris, je’taime did last year. Maybe because the stories are set so close to home, in and about the places I frequent, in the city I love the most. It’s New York City romanticism, squared.

Here’s the memorable Paris, je’taime short starring Natalie Portman – y’know, to get you feeling a bit romantic yourself: