Will (Richard Gere), a handsome, successful New York restauranter, has managed to evade martial commitment for his 48 years. Despite (or, perhaps, because) of his womanizing, he has managed to remain friends with his former paramours, including the mother of one, Dolly (Elaine Stritch). Dolly's daughter and son-in-law have died, leaving Dolly to raise her granddaughter, Charlotte (Winona Ryder). Encountering an article on Will and his restaurant, Charlotte has Dolly take her and her friends to Will's restaurant for her 22nd birthday party. Charlotte also arranges for Dolly to introduce her to the handsome, available and (much older) Will.
Will, predictably sets Charlotte up for seduction. What the always self-assured, always in control, Will cannot know is that Charlotte will never do what he expects her to do. And Charlotte has a secret, a secret that allows her to draw Will into her web. Charlotte is about to teach Will a tremendous lesson in life about control, commitment and responsibility.
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK is somewhat overplotted and slow at times. But, director Joan Chen has elicited effective performances from her cast, particularly Ryder (eccentric), Gere (introspective) and newcomer Vera Farmiga (nurturing). The luminous Farmiga, with heart-shaped face and blue-blue eyes, dominates every scene in which she appears. AUTUMN's glorious cinematography present New York in a manner so flattering I wouldn't have thought it possible. The film's ending pulls no punches, and seems wholly in a manner with its themes.
SPOILERS AHEAD, PRIMARILY FOR THOSE WHOM DISAGREE OR JUST DIDN'T `GET IT.'
When Charlotte tells Will she is dying, she says, `That's the only way we'd work.' Charlotte NEVER does what Will expects. She's always one step ahead of him, even when he cheats on her with Lynn (Jill Hennessey). Will and Charlotte's relationship IS awkward; it is SUPPOSED to be. Will has ALWAYS had women on HIS terms. However, he CANNOT have Charlotte on his terms; because, for the first time in his life, Will realizes his is not in control; God will take Charlotte from him in HIS good time. Had Will met his daughter, Lisa (Vera Farmiga), at ANY other time, he would have, no doubt, rejected her. Will learned he is NOT in control and that he IS accountable, just in time. Was it necessary for Charlotte to die for him to learn this? Perhaps not; however, it was an HONEST decisions by the writers to kill Charlotte off, so that Will could assume the role of the devoted grandfather. Had Charlotte not died, I don't believe Will would have ever fully realized none of us are EVER fully in control. Charlotte knew her destiny; that's why she returned Will's watch when she did. Charlotte `froze time' for Will that beautiful autumn, so that Will could realize whom he really could be.
I think most people were disappointed with AUTUMN IN NEW YORK because they expected a `traditional' May-December romance. Especially, since the `child abuse' scandals and sensationalism of the 80s, the movies have a terrible time with May-December romances. Funny, every week, TV's NORTHERN EXPOSURE showed a passionate, successful romance between a `twenty-something' and a `sixty-something.' Maybe it's time for Hollywood, like Will, to `grow up.'
Will, predictably sets Charlotte up for seduction. What the always self-assured, always in control, Will cannot know is that Charlotte will never do what he expects her to do. And Charlotte has a secret, a secret that allows her to draw Will into her web. Charlotte is about to teach Will a tremendous lesson in life about control, commitment and responsibility.
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK is somewhat overplotted and slow at times. But, director Joan Chen has elicited effective performances from her cast, particularly Ryder (eccentric), Gere (introspective) and newcomer Vera Farmiga (nurturing). The luminous Farmiga, with heart-shaped face and blue-blue eyes, dominates every scene in which she appears. AUTUMN's glorious cinematography present New York in a manner so flattering I wouldn't have thought it possible. The film's ending pulls no punches, and seems wholly in a manner with its themes.
SPOILERS AHEAD, PRIMARILY FOR THOSE WHOM DISAGREE OR JUST DIDN'T `GET IT.'
When Charlotte tells Will she is dying, she says, `That's the only way we'd work.' Charlotte NEVER does what Will expects. She's always one step ahead of him, even when he cheats on her with Lynn (Jill Hennessey). Will and Charlotte's relationship IS awkward; it is SUPPOSED to be. Will has ALWAYS had women on HIS terms. However, he CANNOT have Charlotte on his terms; because, for the first time in his life, Will realizes his is not in control; God will take Charlotte from him in HIS good time. Had Will met his daughter, Lisa (Vera Farmiga), at ANY other time, he would have, no doubt, rejected her. Will learned he is NOT in control and that he IS accountable, just in time. Was it necessary for Charlotte to die for him to learn this? Perhaps not; however, it was an HONEST decisions by the writers to kill Charlotte off, so that Will could assume the role of the devoted grandfather. Had Charlotte not died, I don't believe Will would have ever fully realized none of us are EVER fully in control. Charlotte knew her destiny; that's why she returned Will's watch when she did. Charlotte `froze time' for Will that beautiful autumn, so that Will could realize whom he really could be.
I think most people were disappointed with AUTUMN IN NEW YORK because they expected a `traditional' May-December romance. Especially, since the `child abuse' scandals and sensationalism of the 80s, the movies have a terrible time with May-December romances. Funny, every week, TV's NORTHERN EXPOSURE showed a passionate, successful romance between a `twenty-something' and a `sixty-something.' Maybe it's time for Hollywood, like Will, to `grow up.'