"Top pain in the ass." Martin Scorsese 's New York, New York (1977) is easily one of my least favorite of his films, but that's largely because he has such an astounding filmography. Overall, the picture is a swing and a miss, but I can't help but appreciate its audacity, blending old and new styles. NY, NY looks gorgeous (I love the classic Hollywood artifice), the costumes and production design are fantastic, and the tunes are wonderful. It's amazing, too, that the popular theme song originated here, as it became so synonymous with Frank Sinatra once he covered it three years later. Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro 's performances are excellent as well. De Niro's character's abusive personality is incredibly manipulative, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. Despite this, there is a great deal of humor in the film. But NY, NY definitely overstays its welcome (not all long films feel long, but this one does). Some scenes drag on longer than the...