Movie Reviews

‘Autumn In New York’ Blu-Ray Review – Richard Gere And Winona Ryder Cannot Find A Spark In Romantic Tearjerker

By Dillon Gonzales
December 22, 2021
No Comments

When the stresses of the world get to be too much, sometimes you just need to relinquish to the power of your feelings and let those tears flow out. While some are primed to tap that reservoir of emotions without assistance, others may need entertainment to facilitate the much-needed catharsis. Luckily for them, Hollywood is ready to assist on this front, or at least they used to be. The best tear-jerkers used to be constructed well enough to be nominated for Best Picture, such was the case of Love Story and Terms Of Endearment. Perhaps more often studios released manipulative schmaltz that was better left at the bottom of the barrel from where it originated. With the 2000 romantic drama Autumn In New York from director Joan Chen (Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl), the verdict lies somewhere in between. The film was a critical punching bag upon its release, but it did end up earning a nice chunk of change by the time it left theaters. The film features a talented ensemble of performers, but there is something in the execution where the elements do not come together in a satisfying manner.

Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, An Officer and A Gentleman) once again turns on his devilish charms not unfamiliar to the romance genre to inhabit the role of Will Keane, a 48-year-old restaurateur who most often can be found jumping from woman to woman. Ladies love Will, and Will loves them…up to a point. The most recent transfixing presence to enter his life is Charlotte Fielding (Winona Ryder, Beetlejuice), a 22-year-old celebrating her birthday in his restaurant. She happens to be dining with her grandmother (Elaine Stritch, Original Cast Album: “Company”) who happens to be an old friend of his. In fact, he dated her daughter years ago before she died in a tragic car accident. Not to be deterred by the fact that he used to date her mother, he slowly begins to make subtle advances towards Charlotte in the subsequent days where they form a passionate connection. He confesses that their romance can only be temporary due to his commitment issues. She one-ups him by agreeing because she has a terminal heart condition. As expected, one’s heart really opens up when there is the threat of losing someone.

There is a world where this could be a pretty effective drama, but there are too many issues working against it to say that this is great. There is a barrier to entry with their large age gap which could only really be overcome with an undeniable romantic chemistry. Unfortunately, as good as Richard Gere and Winona Ryder are in their respective roles, they have no chemistry together on screen. The character of Charlotte is not treated as a real person, instead putting her up as a free-spirited symbol only meant to facilitate the growth of Will. The tragic circumstances behind her existence are more than a touch manipulative as you enter the home stretch of the film. Much more rewarding is the relationship Will has with Lisa (Vera Farmiga, The Conjuring films), a daughter he has never met before but learns to open himself up to thanks to his relationship with Charlotte. J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) also has a small but memorable role as a doctor who is fighting to give Charlotte one last chance at life. The ensemble outside of the main couple is really strong and provides some great emotional beats that work a lot better than the obvious one you are supposed to weep over.

Video Quality

Autumn In New York comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from what is almost assuredly an older dated master. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the source without any hints of digital tinkering. The grain presents as organic rather than overwhelmingly noisy, although there are moments where it gets a bit coarse. Overall clarity and detail is passable, and skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Colors are well saturated with vivid hues popping off the screen, especially in some of the clothing choices. Black levels are deep and hold up pretty well with crush not serving as a detrimental issue. Instances of print damage are not very perceptible with a transfer free from damage. This presentation from MVD Entertainment is satisfactory within the realm of dated masters.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a LPCM 2.0 track that accurately captures the intended sound of the film. The music is used well to establish the mood of the story, and this track handles it elegantly throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. The bustling urban environmental sounds are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. MVD Entertainment has given this film a perfectly preserved audio presentation that brings the movie to life in a most pleasing manner.

Special Features

Gallery: A collection of stills are provided here from the film.

Trailers: There are trailers provided for 37: A Final Promise, Barbershop, Barbershop 2, Beauty Shop and Out Of Time.

Final Thoughts

Autumn In New York misses the mark where it counts the most, but there are some tertiary elements that give the story a little more emotional weight. As good as both of the leads are, the script and their lack of chemistry do not bring out their best work. The movie might force you to shed a few tears, but this does not rank among the best of the heartbreaking classics. MVD Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a good A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features.

Autumn In New York is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.