I guess from all the time I lived in NY, I'd have to say the movies that was closest to my experience and always makes me think of my time there was, "After Hours" and parts of, "Ms. 45."

But I know I wasn't asked.

Oof! Thanks for the love, all. As I wrote, I picked "The Royal Tenenbaums" because it resembles nothing like a realistic portrait of the city -- it is (and I'm sure intentionally) like a daydream of New York from someone who'd never been there. That's an aspect I, as someone who moved to New York rather than grew up there, always found poignant. Apparently others feel strongly otherwise.

Incidentally, I am, to my continual regret, neither an ex-model nor related to anyone who owns any companies. If you're going to go with personal attacks, I would suggest you pick from the following list, for accuracy's sake: Ignorant, frivolous, petty, immature, smelly.

Well, we'd hoped these questions and responses would lead to further discussion, and to people posting their own take on the questions. So far so good. Not sure how or why people feel the need to both make personal and take personal one individual's response, which, in this case, was clearly not meant to represent the entire history of NYC cinematic portrayals.

In short, Mark, Karen and Jennifer, thanks for taking the time out to comment here. In the future, however, you might want to consider ways of making a point, of responding without resorting to personal insults or mean-spirited attacks. Fortunately, I know enough New Yorkers (both friends and family) and have been there enough times to know that you don't speak for denizens of that complex metropolis any more than Allison does - but at least in her case, she never made pretense to do so.

This sort of thing makes it less fun to read through the comments here and might make other bloggers less inclined to both contribute and comment here. Disagree as much as you like, but try to treat other people with respect. Thanks.

C

PS: Something Wild is a wonderful movie, one of my fave "cult" items, but I don't really see that as strictly a NYC film (though there are some great scenes there, and I'll never forget the performance of Sister Carol), as much as a Long Island, New Jersey, Penn. and surrounding areas (and Florida) film.

Wow, the peanut gallery hasn't had their coffee yet, have they? I'm not following everyone's reasoning who claims their opinions and subjective experiences are "righter" than someone else's. Wes Anderson may be a hipster, but what do you call name-checking your own wish list (to which I say, wannabe Basquiat instead of the real-cred Downtown 81?) or demanding "more thoughtful" antiquatedness and obscurity so the snobs can agree that they get the reference?

(Also, New York hasn't been frightening, dreadful or really as grimy since before the Disneyfication of Times Sq.)

Alison's answer was sincere, unapologetic and tied in with her personal experience. Does she not have permission to give an opinion on the question she was asked, simply because she's not an NYC native? And why does her choice for what puts HER in said state of mind have to be the definitive avatar of all that is New York? Who's insulting whom, and did they read the question correctly?

Alison, you should take all this vitriolic jealousy as a true compliment. But stop being so smelly.

Good idea, Craig. I'll put in two more cents and say either After Hours or Rosemary's Baby. When I want Brooklyn to represent, either Smoke or Do the Right Thing.

No one asked for agreement or ego massaging here, no one's trying to make this a clique. My point was merely that one's own point - and whatever point the first few posters were attempting to make - can be better made by writing a reasoned rebuttal, or by taking the time to disagree without resorting to insulting someone personally. There were absolutely some good suggestions for other NYC films in the previous responses, and I noted those as such. The discourse just takes a more interesting flow when it doesn't stoop to name-calling, is all. If you feel that your contributions and theirs are heightened by that, in attempt to test how thick someone's skin is, then so be it, that's certainly your choice. I just disagree. There, now see? We're having a discussion. And no one gets hurt.

Btw, I agree about Keane - one of the better NYC films in awhile, and one of the more underrated "indie" films in general of the past few years, imho. I really want to write about that more at length soon as it's stayed with me long after first viewing it.

Sorry to see all this totally unwarranted nastiness. Royal Tenenbaums would not be my pick but it's one I can respect as a personal choice. Personally I favor Taxi Driver because it really reminds of what the streets were like when I grew up in the city, but I have to say, the New York State of Mind it puts me in is not a very pleasant one. I like The Warriors for similar reasons, with its weird combination of realistic geography and surrealistic gangs. I like Jerry's suggestion of After Hours also.

BTW, if it's any consolation, Alison, based on the stylistic similarities of the flames you're getting there's probably only one very angry person out there with an axe to grind against you and/or Wes Anderson.

Thanks, David. (After Hours is also one of my favorite NYC movies, too.)

I was wondering this, too... The tone is the same... the responses are similar... the lack of links to any web site, too... Hmm. Reminded me of this:

"That's very interesting, Harold, and I think, very illuminating. There seems to be a definite pattern emerging. And, of course, this pattern, once isolated, can be coped with. Recognize the problem, and you are halfway on the road to its, uh, its solution." -- Psychiatrist in Harold and Maude

This is a first.

Attacking somebody for not "experiencing" New York properly. For not allowing herself to become cynical, jaded, or perhaps even grizzled.

Forgive her for not hanging out on the Deuce in 1973, or drinking Manhattans with Sinatra at Toots Shor.

...haven't paid your dues -- talk about living inside a cinematic fantasy! Sounds like a line out of a Clifford Odets play. What does that even mean anyway?

As a born and raised NY'er, I found Alison's response fascinating. Sure, it's not a title many locals would choose, but that's precisely what makes the post so interesting. Mark, if you haven't noticed, these daily questions in David's absence are about opinion, not authority.

There are so many educated people who love movies and who can talk sharply about them and so few jobs that afford that opportunity. I am not one of those people.

And I'm afraid therein lies the crux of your issue.

Perhaps you should read Ms. Willmore on a daily basis before tossing out such flippant dismissals.

PS: As for NY'ers not being light & pampered -- please! Try telling that to the trust-fund hipster brats, Uppper East/West side moms, Tribeca traders, etc.

PPS: Following Craig and Aaron's lead, I'll toss out Dassin's The Naked City and Gordon Parks' The Super Cops.

Look on the bright side, Allison, no one else's posts have generated this sort of response!
Me, I'm just glad to see that film fans are finally calling out Wes Anderson for his overly-precious, stickerbook whimsy crimes post-Rushmore.
And my favorite (read: not definitive) New York fims are Wild Style and Manhattan.

"I have confirmation that all of the flames are coming from a single location, an apartment in Arcadia, California. Then gentlemen in question is a 35-year old unemployed substitute teacher by the name of Jefferey Brian Archdale."

Ah hah! I knew it. See, this is my fault. I ran into Mr. Archdale at a cocktail party in NYC last year and after I'd confessed that my favorite depiction of NYC in film is in fact, The Muppets Take Manhattan, he recovered from his initial shock by then throwing his cocktail in my face. I was only teasing, Mr. Archdale - come back, all is forgiven.

Meanwhile, Wild Style and Naked City, Super Cops, all great, disparate choices. We should compile a list, reflecting the diversity of choices here.

cgp

Considering that the question posed was "What movie puts you in a New York state of mind?," I think Ms. Willmore does a fine job of explaining her choice. As an ex-pat New Yorker, I have no problem with people thinking I'm from Anderson's idealized version of the city.

But if we're talking about the movie that best represents New York? Easy. New York is daily toil, attitude at every turn, ceaseless logistical questions, men in those hats with the one little feather in them, and the subway. The movie is The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

Good idea, Craig. I nominate The Little Fugitive and A Thousand Clowns and second Pelham and whomever mentioned High Art, which is as sleek and "gritty" as any photo by its obvious inspiration Nan Goldin.

What puts me in the worst New York state of mind is Sofia and Francis Ford Coppola's candy-colored contribution to the 1989 omnibus New York Stories. Next to "Life Without Zoe," Anderson's flick looks like Weegee.

A close second, however, is reading the same old, tired "I'm a tough New Yorker" chauvinism from folks who give the city its undeserved bad rep. Yes, there are a million stories in the naked city, that's part of its allure, but it's just another city, people, big and dirty and reeking of urine in the summertime. Living there is not an accomplishment; it's a choice.

Brooklyn broad Betty Bacall said it best: "You know what you learn if you're a New Yorker? The world doesn't owe you a damn thing."

Love Pelham. Films that put one in a NY subway state of mind would be a whole subgenre - Pelham, The Warriors, the hilarious scene with Stallone in Bananas and its dark flip side in Death Wish, (and, of course, the scene in Seinfeld where the lights go out as Elaine is trapped, though that's TV - I'm so glad they seem to have mostly got the light thing under control these days).

Sorry about all this, folks. These are no longer "possibly" trolls, but *definitely* trolls - all coming from the same exact IP address. I'm only sorry I didn't check this sooner, or you would have been spared a lot of this nonsense (though at least the rest of us did continue on our merry way and had a decent discussion, anyway.) I have banned that trolling IP address (don't worry, the rest of you are safe) - from whence 15 similar sounding comments all came today.

Did the same to the one in the other thread, too.

Sheesh, you have to be really vigilant around here. Word gets out that David goes on vacation, and the trolls leave the bridges under which they normally hide.

Sorry again, and, as you were, carry on, etc.