Manhattan fantasy

Film review: A New York Winter’s Tale (12a)
Running time 119 minutes
Rating: ***

A New York Winter’s Tale is a perplexing film for those members of the audience given to thinking deeply about what they are watching. The title seems to imply some kind of Shakespearean connection when there is nothing of the sort. Then there is the story – a blend of Gangs of New York and the Twilight films, with a dash of Snow White for good measure. And the cast – one which looks eminently qualified to make a good fist of anything writers and a director can throw at them. Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Will Smith should, on their track records, do the business. Finally, and regretfully, the verdict – that A New York Winter’s Tale is a mish-mash of genres, ideas and themes, that fails to lead anywhere much. However, if you forego any deep thinking, simply eat your popcorn and gaze in wonder at the flickering images, you have to say that the film offers passable entertainment that does keep the audience’s attention right to the end titles. If you are a supernatural horror freak, then you get some of that. If you are are into shiny-pink romance, there’s some of that as well and, finally, if you enjoy thriller chases and fighting, then you you won’t be disappointed. You have to admit that it’s clever of director Akiva Goldsman to stuff all that into two hours. The tale is long and complicated, so to summarise…orphan burglar Peter Lake (Farrell) is hunted by his old boss Pearly Soames (Crowe), a demon. He is guided by a guardian angel in the form of a white horse to break into a house where Beverley Penn, the daughter of newspaper magnate Isaac Penn (William Hurt) is dying of TB. They fall in love, but Soames manages to kill the girl because he fears she is able to perform a miracle, but in dying she makes Peter immortal. The tale moves on over 100 years to modern times, the hero haunted by images of his former love and still battling with his demon from the past. The movie may well engage a younger audience more, attracted by its romantic theme and unrestrained emotional content. It is just a shame that instead of being a full-on ‘red rose offering’, it falls between too many themes and fails to deliver completely on any one of them. With a classification of 12a, A New York Winter’s Tale is still worth a visit with the youngsters.