New York, I Love You (And Always Have): Top Ten New York Movie Moments

by Helen Zhang and Glynnis MacNicol | 2:24 pm, October 9th, 2009

» 7 comments

newyorkiloveyou-440x322 After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival more than a year ago, the long awaited New York, I Love You is finally being released in New York theaters this Friday.

A collaborative effort, New York, I Love You is an anthology of 10+ shorts directed by the likes of Brett Ratner to Natalie Portman, and starring almost every actor in the world. To celebrate its arrival — and the arrival of glorious Fall in New York — we’ve nostalgically compiled a list of the cheesiest, most romantic, most epic and irresistible movies starring our favorite city.

1. Manhattan

One of Woody Allen’s many silver screen love letters to New York, the opener to this 1979 film has become a classic all on its own, perfectly capturing the combination of majesty and neurosis that is New York. In addition to Diane Keaton‘s unforgettable lines (“What do you want? I say what’s on my mind, and if you can’t take it well then fuck off”), it features Woody Allen making out with a 17-year-old during a carriage ride through Central Park, there is iconic shot of Queensboro bridge all of which make it easy to believe Allen when he says of Manhattan, “it’s really a knockout,” as he looks over the East River.

2. Moonstruck

La bella luna! This film about an Italian American family living in Brooklyn Heights is so packed with unforgettable scenes it’s hard to pick just one: Cher and Cage meeting at the Met fountain, the streets of Brooklyn, Cosmo’s moon, that house! (“It’s a house.”) Actually, you don’t have to choose because the entire movie is on YouTube.

NEXT: The Ephron Years – When Harry Meets Sally, When Seattle Meets the Empire State Building

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Brett Ratner, Elf, Home Alone 2, Manhattan, Natalie Portman, New York City movies, New York I Love You, Sleepless In Seattle, The Way We Were, When Harry Met Sally, Woody Allen

KatrinasmediaAngel

Or my favorite(can’t find a clip)
The street fair scene from “You’ve Got Mail” Or anything from “You’ve Got Mail.”
Rachel Sklar

I feel like there’s a whole segment of “gritty new york” clips that are missing from this pantheon – of course I can’t think of any now. Maybe “Pieces of April” about an awkward LES Thanksgiving?
plocke

Love them all. And, since I’m a Brooklyn gal, I have to add Sophie’s Choice and that fabulous house in Ditmas Park. (Trailer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcH-m5l0g4
http://ronmwangaguhunga.blogspot.com RonMwangaguhunga

Love this
Facebook User

How could King Kong climbing the Empire State building with Fay Ray not be on this list? A huge oversight.
LotusMan

What about “Miracle on 34th Street”?!! You have “Elf” but not this classic???

Also, what about Ghostbusters?!!! It was all New York, and more visibly and identifiably New York than most of the movies listed — and it’s also better than a half the movies mentioned! It’s got down town, uptown and everything in between. Come on, the Staypuffed marshmallow man rampaging through the streets of New York and the exploding covering the street with marshmallow?! Seriously. Your list is sadly lacking.
kimross

New York I Love You is full of love and power. Not for everybody, however, but is a beautiful movie.

handy zubehor