Honey (2003)

January 22, 2021 Paris McGarry

Honey
Rated PG-13 | 94 minutes | Color | 35mm
Universal Pictures presents a NuAmerica Entertainment and Marc Platt production
Release Date: November 24, 2003
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Director: Bille Woodruff | Screenwriter: Alonzo Brown and Kim Watson | Executive Producer: Billy Higgins | Producer: Andre Harrell and Marc Platt | Music by: Mervyn Warren | Cinematographer: John R. Leonetti | Editor: Mark Helfrich and Emma E. Hickox | Casting by: Aisha Coley and Michelle Gertz | Production Designer: Jasna Stefanovic | Art Director: Anastasia Masaro | Set Decorator: Steven Essam | Costume Designer: Susan Matheson
Filmed in Toronto in September 2002

Set in East Harlem, Manhattan

The film Honey is a tricky one to be included in this roundup because the film was actually shot in Canada for the most part. There are a few exterior shots of New York City but my reasoning for including this film is that the main character, Honey Daniels, is a New Yorker through and through. It’s the thing that defines her and while Jessica Alba’s portrayal of a New Yorker from East Harlem is a stretch, the film really documents that late 90s/early 2000s MTV, J Lo-esque, New York energy that was projected to the rest of the world. I think this film is also a great example of a pivotal moment in film history where shooting films in New York City became so expensive that a lot of productions set in New York, moved their productions to Toronto.

The director, Bille Woodruff, started out directing music videos for artists such as Toni Braxton, Backstreet Boys, TLC, Usher, and more. Honey was his debut into feature films. In 2005 he directed Beauty Shop starring Queen Latifah. Woodruff eventually directed Honey 2 (2011) and Honey 3: Dare to Dance (2016), but neither film stared Alba as Honey.

Prior to this film, Jessica Alba starred in the TV show Flipper from 1995-1999 about a team of scientists studying dolphins, played a high school mean-girl in Never Been Kissed (1999), and starred in James Cameron’s TV show Dark Angel from 2000-2002 where she played a genetically-enhanced woman who works for a messenger service in the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest. After, Honey, Alba became most famous for her portrayal of Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four films and her iconic cowgirl stripper dance in Sin City (2005).

Alba’s love interest in the film is played by Mekhi Phifer whose first feature film appearance was in Spike Lee’s Clockers (1995). He has also been in Soul Food (1997), Hell’s Kitchen (1998), also starring Angelina Jolie and Rosanna Arquette, John Singleton’s Shaft in 2000, O (2001), an update of Shakespeare's 'Othello,' alongside Julia Stiles and Josh Hartnett and directed by actor Tim Blake Nelson, and 8 Mile (2002). He plays the boyfriend in the music video for Monica and Brandy’s song The Boy is Mine (1998) and was also in both Hav Plenty (1997) and The Other Brother (2002), two other New York City romance films. Later in his career, he was in 135 episodes of ER from 2002-2008.

A 14-year-old Lil’ Romeo, pre-dropping the “Lil’”, appears in the film as one of the dancers in Honey’s dance class.

Chaz (Mekhi Phifer) and Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba)

Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba), Sheek Louch, Jadakiss and dance ensemble

Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba) and Benny (Lil' Romeo)

Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba) and Gina (Joy Bryant)

Falling in Love (1984)

August 26, 2020 Paris McGarry

Midtown, Manhattan

Falling in Love is the ultimate positive spin on a cheating film. The thing about the cheating in this film is that I don’t think the film does a particularly convincing job of setting up why we’re supposed to root for the couple who cheats, yet Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro as the two cheating leads are hard not to get behind. Aside from being the ultimate cheater film, it’s also the ultimate New York City commuter film. Both romantic leads live in the suburbs and meet and romance on the MetroNoth commuter train. There are a lot of scenes at Grand Central Station, mostly near the tracks. Their meet-cute happens at the Rizzoli bookstore on Christmas Eve. I think this film also needs to be added to the list of films to watch at Christmas. At the end of the day, the film follows a very similar storyline (and even has similar Christmas elements) as Serendipity. Love happens not at the right place or the right time but is destined beyond explanation and without much understanding of how their bond is formed. Steep’s character also made me think of a stereotypical Libra romantic lead: indecisive, eager to please, and a total flirt.

Director Ulu Grosbard is a Belgium filmmaker who made other independent films such as the Mirimax-produced Georgia (1995) starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, True Confessions (1981), a few years before Falling in Love and also starring Robert De Niro as well as Robert Duvall. His first film in 1968 called The Subject Was Roses starred Patricia Neal and Martin Sheen. Then Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? in 1971 starring Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Harris, and Jack Warden and then Straight Time in 1978 starring Dustin Hoffman, Theresa Russell, Harry Dean Stanton, and Gary Busey. Finally, his last film was shot in 1999 called The Deep End of the Ocean starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Whoopi Goldberg to round out his short but star-studded career. He went on to direct mostly theater.

Writer Michael Cristofer is best known for writing The Witches of Eastwick (1987) starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, romance films Mr. Jones (1993) starring Richard Gere, Lena Olin, and Anne Bancroft and Breaking Up (1997) starring Russell Crowe and Salma Hayek, Gia (1998) starring Angelina Jolie and Original Sin (2001) starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. He also went on to work in theater and has a lengthy acting career as well.

Frank (Robert De Niro) and Molly (Meryl Streep)

Molly (Meryl Streep) and Frank (Robert De Niro)

Frank (Robert De Niro) and Ann (Jane Kaczmarek)

Splash (1984)

August 26, 2020 Paris McGarry

Midtown, Manhattan

Available to stream on Disney Plus

Tom Hanks starts off the film as a man who can’t seem to fall in love, no matter how perfect the woman is. Enter Daryl Hannah, the mermaid, who for the first quarter of the film cannot communicate with him except for through sex. I’ve never seen a film with so many great shots of being on New York City streets and such an absurdly 1980s premise. Allen, Tom Hanks’ character, and Madison, Daryl Hannah the mermaid, are childhood loves who didn’t meet at the right moment. Through a drowning incident, Allen’s inability to swim, a heroic mermaid, and a lost wallet, Madison makes her way to track down Allen in New York City. When Allen meets this mysterious naked woman (mermaid) on the beach, she kisses him unexpectedly and without a word. The film asks the question, what are you willing to accept in another person when it comes to love and what are you willing to give up for love? Eventually, her mermaid-ness is exposed and Allen’s love for Madison is put to the test. Tom Hanks is the ultimate commitment-phobe who finally learns to commit to the beautiful, naked, lost, and childlike girl. It is a true film of the 1980s. Daryl Hannah’s perfect beach waves will make you run out and buy a hair crimper. The true underrated star of this film is John Candy who plays Tom Hanks’ brother and is in maybe one of his best comedic roles.

Ron Howard is best known for directing Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), and The Da Vinci Code (2006), also with Hanks. He is also famous for his acting roles at a younger age in The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, and American Graffiti (1973). The film is based on a story by Brian Grazer, Howard’s longtime producing partner.

Tom Hanks won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Forrest Gump (1994) and Philadelphia (1993) and was nominated for Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), and Big (1988). He starred in two other classic New York City romance films, Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You’ve Got Mail (1998).

Daryl Hannah is most famous for her roles in both Kill Bill: Vol.1 (2003) and Vol. 2 (2004), Wall Street (1987), Blade Runner (1982), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Roxanne (1987).

Daryl Hannah (Madison) and Tom Hanks (Allen)

Frankie and Johnny (1991)

August 19, 2020 Paris McGarry

Manhattan

The title of the film is taken from the song “Frankie and Johnny” originally sung by Sam Cooke. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Frankie, a downtrodden diner waitress who meets a man named Johnny, played by Al Pacino. Johhny gets a job as a cook at the diner she works at after getting out of prison. Al Pacino is Al Pacino at his finest. The most New York, the most Italian. Their relationship is frustrating and sexy and they’re no good for each other but intertwined regardless. It’s a bit long for a romance but the film sort of lets you walk around their world. Johnny brings up the kismet nature of their names being the same as the famous song more than once. The romance between Frankie and Johnny follows this kind of dramatically doomed love story often sung about in songs from the 60s. In the song, Frankie ends up shooting Johnny and their whole relationship in the film follows this premise that men are no good deep down but there’s an irresistible charm to them. An unapologetically messed up film indicative of its time and place. The film shows New York City at the very beginning of the 1990s but feels quite old-fashioned and pays homage to many romances of a different era. This film is also the return of the acting duo who lead the film Scarface (1983), almost a decade earlier.

Filmmaker Garry Marshall is obviously most famous for directing Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman (1990), which he made the year before Frankie and Johnny. Some other notable films by Marshall are The Flamingo Kid (1984) starring Matt Dillon, Overboard (1987) starring future husband and wife Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Beaches (1988), Runaway Bride (1999), another Julia Roberts and Richard Gere film, The Princesse Diaries (one and two), Raising Helen (2004) and Georgia Rule (2007). Marshall is in many respects one of the kings of the mainstream romance film. Giving us the iconic pairing of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is alone enough for me to say that.

The play version of Frankie and Johnny by Terrence McNally was resurrected in 2019 starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham starred in the first production of the off-Broadway play in 1987.

Al Pacino is best known for his roles of Bobby in The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), Serpico in Serpico (1973), Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon (1975), and Tony Montana in Scarface (1983).

Michelle Pfeiffer is best known for playing Elvira in Scarface (1983), Sukie Ridgemont in The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Ellen Olenska in The Age of Innocence (1993), Melanie Parker in One Fine Day (1996), and Rita in I Am Sam (2001).

Frankie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Johnny (Al Pacino)

Johnny (Al Pacino) and Frankie (Michelle Pfeiffer)

Crossing Delancey (1988)

August 19, 2020 Paris McGarry

Lower East Side, Manhattan & Upper West Side, Manhattan

Crossing Delancey is the ultimate 1980s New York film. Uptown girl meets Downtown boy (who happens to make pickles for a living). Isabelle Grossman, played by Amy Irving, works at a high-brow bookshop uptown organizing literary talks and readings. Her Bubbie wants her to meet a nice Jewish boy and asks the neighborhood matchmaker to set Isabelle up with someone. Enter Peter Riegert as Sam Posner. He plays handball at the Lower-East Side handball courts across the street from his father’s pickle shop that he now owns and operates. Crossing Delancey is full of classic New York moments, girlfriends venting while running on a balcony indoor running track, downtown vs. uptown life, highbrow meets working-class love story, Delancey Street in 1988, etc. Isabelle struggles throughout the film between what she thinks she wants and the perfectly sweet and available guy in front of her who represents a world she thinks she’d like to separate herself from.

Director Joan Micklin Silver’s first film Hester Street (1975) starring Carol Kane is another New York City romance but a period piece set in 1896. Next, she made Between the Lines (1977), with a young Jeff Goldblum, which tells the story of the staff at a Boston underground newspaper staff. Before making Crossing Delancey, she directed Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979) where she worked with Peter Riegert in a supporting role. In 1989 she directed Loverboy (1989) starring a young Patrick Dempsey.

Amy Irving’s notable film roles are Sue Snell in the 1976 Carrie and Hadass in Yentl (1983). Peter Riegert's notable film roles are Donald Schoenstein in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) and Mac in Local Hero (1983).

Isabelle Grossman (Amy Irving) and Sam Posner (Peter Riegert)

Bubbie Kantor (Reizl Bozyk) and Isabelle Grossman (Amy Irving)

Bubbie Kantor (Reizl Bozyk) and Sam Posner (Peter Riegert)

Isabelle Grossman (Amy Irving) and Bubbie Kantor (Reizl Bozyk)

I Love... New York

August 18, 2020 Paris McGarry

For Valentine’s Day in 2019, I made the first volume of a zine called I Love New York. The zine’s format was based on an annual catalog book series titled Screen World by John Willis that published images and cast and crew information for films of that year released in the US and abroad. The first volume of I Love New York was a catalog of some of my favorite romance films shot in New York City from 1950 to 2009. I covered 35 films in the first issue and released a second issue in 2020 featuring 34 more films. Since making issue two, I have been working on an ongoing list of films to compile into the definitive catalog of romance films shot in New York City. This blog is a place to hear a little bit more about the films that show New York City as the ultimate city to fall in love in.

The Criteria:

When choosing films that “qualify” in this series, the main criterion is that the audience sees some part of any of the 5 boroughs that make up New York City as the setting of the film and that the film has themes of romance and romantic love. Most films in this series very easily follow these guidelines, but some great romance films toe the line. Because there are so many films set in New York City where the main focus of the film is a romantic relationship, it has been helpful to be strict with these guidelines. Does Sweet Home Alabama count even though the main romantic relationship isn’t played out in New York City? Is there enough of New York City in the 1995 version of Sabrina? And for the sake of all the other great romance films shot there, do the Hamptons count as an unofficial extra borough if the characters are all New Yorkers? Then there is the issue of films set in New York City versus films shot in New York City. This is an issue particularly with films from the 50s and 60s because many of these films set in New York City were shot on soundstages, such as the 1960 film Let’s Make Love which is set on Broadway but filmed in Los Angeles in a studio. This blog is also a place to help work out the specifics of what films can skate by on their New York-ness and what films are too much of a stretch to include.

Another criterion for this series is the time frame I’ve implemented. I wanted a solid couple of decades of films to focus on so I decided on 50 years of romance films and 50 years of New York City from the 1960s through the 2000s. There are not as many films actually shot on the streets of New York City before the 1960s because most films were still part of the Hollywood studio system and shot on soundstages in Los Angeles. As far as the decision to cut off films shot after 2009, I personally believe the 2000s begin the decline of the romance genre.

Most of these films I’ve seen, some I haven’t gotten around to yet and some are unavailable to me to watch. I’ll try to update ways to stream or purchase these films when available! Here’s to falling in love <3 P