- New York City Serenade (film)
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New York City Serenade Directed by Frank Whaley Produced by Laird Adamson
James Koya JonesScreenplay by Frank Whaley Starring Freddie Prinze Jr.
Chris Klein
Jamie-Lynn SiglerMusic by Ed Harcourt Cinematography Ryan Samul Editing by Miran Miosic Studio IKM Productions Distributed by Archer Entertainment Release date(s) September 13, 2007 (Toronto Film Festival)
August 15, 2008 (U.K.)Running time 103 min. Country United States Language English New York City Serenade is a 2007 comedy-drama film written and directed by Frank Whaley and starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., Chris Klein and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. It made its debut at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.
Contents
Plot
Owen is an aspiring filmmaker who has been nominated for an award for one of his short films, in which his friend Ray appears. Owen has a job in the film industry, developing photos. Ray has an office job (this week) but still plays drums in a rock band, and he has a young daughter Francie as well as a drinking problem. Owen is engaged to Lynn.
Owen and Lynn go out to a film, where they meet Lynn's French literature professor Noam. Then they catch the end of one of the performances of Ray's band. Owen wants to continue the date afterward, but Ray persuades tells Owen he needs help moving his drums; the truth is they go to Bertrand's party, where Owen and Rachel end up in bed.
Owen, Ray and two of their friends are asked to serve as pallbearers when the father of their friend Matt dies in New Jersey. While Owen is out of town, Lynn and Rachel meet, and Lynn learns the truth about what Owen and Rachel did. Lynn wants to break up.
Owen takes Ray to the film festival where he hopes to win an award. When they arrive, their driver Les is supposed to take them to the airport motel, but Ray saw Wallace Shawn and found out he was staying at the Four Seasons. The guys go there and Ray overhears that Shawn's son will be late, so Ray claims to be Shawn's son and gets the guys a nice room. They attend the festival but don't win anything. When they return to the hotel, their scheme has been uncovered and they are kicked out. Owen repeatedly calls Lynn trying to make up with her, but she never answers and the two are never again shown together. In Lynn's last scene she is getting ready to go on a date with Noam.
At the end of the movie, some time has passed and Ray has straightened his life out and his a good job and a good relationship with his daughter. Owen has produced a successful television commercial.
Cast
- Freddie Prinze Jr. as Owen
- Chris Klein as Ray
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Lynn
- Ben Schwartz as Russ
- Christopher DeBlasio as Ben
- Sebastian Roché as Noam Broder
- Wallace Shawn as himself
- Frank Whaley as Les
- Emma Bell as Melinda
- Diana Gettinger as Rachel
- Jeff Skowron as Matt
Reception
Kyle Smith of the New York Post called the film "one of those pointless indies that you'll have forgotten before the credits roll" and criticized Frank Whaley's "staggering lack of insight, imagination and wit".[1] Nathan Lee of The New York Times called the film "transparently banal".[2]
References
- ^ Smith, Kyle (2009-03-06). "New York City Serenade". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/item_8bioDXpAAZrwmk9horzqyM;jsessionid=A73A9418EF91CB2C54277BAE0A322424. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
- ^ Lee, Nathan (2009-03-05). "Dreaming of Cultural Stardom". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/movies/06sere.html?ref=movies. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
External links
Categories:- 2007 films
- American films
- American comedy-drama films
- English-language films
- Films directed by Frank Whaley
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