Customer Reviews

Crossing Delancey

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every once in a while, I come across a film who's central characters are so honest in their look, sound and feel, that they could easily be long lost members of my own family. Crossing Delancey is one of those rare films. One that I can easily watch over and over, particularly when I need a little 'pick me up'. Peter Riegert's 'Sam' is so charming and genuine in his demeanor that 'Izzy', once the two are introduced, stands little chance of escaping back to her artificial and mostly barren existence among the cultured elite.

Having been born and raised in a city tenement, I remember thinking back then in much the same way as Izzy. Given the opportunity, it was a place from which I wanted to be far removed. Izzy makes the classic mistake of confusing her need to better herself and her surroundings with her almost compulsive need to divorce herself from the very people who know, love and best understand her. Her journey back to the realization that, regardless of where she lives and works, Izzy will always be from the same cut of cloth as the people from whom she had been trying to escape, is ultimately what makes this movie worth watching.

In most films, there's a standout moment or a scene, and Crossing Delancey is no exception. Blessed with a great cast (Izzy's grandmother steals the show), the film is riddled with humorous and sometimes very funny moments. However, it is one of the film's more serious and unsettling moments (I refer to the classic scene at the eatery where the 'has been' torch singer with the tip can appears to sing directly to Izzy), that seems to capture, for me, the magic of Crossing Delancey. Overall, a charming winner of a film that is made significantly better by a wonderful and offbeat Roche sisters soundtrack.

This is a wonderful movie. I have seen it lots of times on VHS and am so pleased that it is coming out on DVD! Love the "Pickle Man"!

Amy Irving...where are you? You're such a great talent!

"Crossing Delancey" is presumed at first a romance, and it is. Deeper than the romance is a search for meaning. This two-level movie is funny with an undercurrent of a genuine plot stronger than the usual romantic comedy.

Part of the ego-driven, superficial but pretentious New York literary scene, Isabelle Grossman brings together writers and other literati for soirees feting the personalities behind the books.

Isabelle, or Izzy, herself is not a writer, but feels she is important because of the names and numbers in her Rolodex. She works hard and late, only to go home to an empty apartment. Her only love is accommodating the occasional lonely nights of a friend who fights with his wife. She tolerates his affections in what amounts to be no more than a recurring one-night stand.

Although Izzy's emptiness surrounds her, she never notices it, not even when her grandmother has a matchmaker attempt setting her up with Sam, a neighbor bachelor. Unfortunately for Sam, her intentions are set on Anton, a dashing, but caddish author whose books are bestsellers. He only wants her to appease his desires, and has no love for her, but she is blind to his true intentions. She curtly rejects another date with Sam.

With a single romantic signal, Pickleman Sam, the man she pushed away in a matchmaking dinner now effectively woos her heart into confusion. He had noticed her years ago and now happily accepted the chance to be introduced by the matchmaker. When he tells her this, a spark is lit. He isn't the suave author she begs for, and his lifestyle is more simple than those whose books are reviewed in the New York Times. She fumbles opportunity after opportunity to connect with Sam, but he is patient.

Anton makes advances that are alluring to Izzy as her heart tries to reconcile her fondness for Sam. This conflict causes Izzy to ask the important questions about integrity, meaning and happiness.

With the light, but poignant backdrop of her Jewish family and friends, this romance makes statements both serious and comedic. Outside of the periodic stereotyping of Jewish grandmothers, it works.

I fully recommend "Crossing Delancey."

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This urban love story stars Amy Irving as a single Jewish woman who is balanced between two worlds: the literary life of the Upper West Side in Manhattan where she works in an upscale bookstore and the ethnic hotbed of the Lower East Side where her yenta of a grandmother is forever trying to arrange a marriage "with a nice Jewish boy."
Granny wants to fix her up with a quiet guy who runs a neighbornood pickle stand - and Amy's not having any of it. I mean, a PICKLE SELLER?? Come on, Granny!

But watch what happens...
A traditional romance, lovingly told. Enjoy it.

Why don't they make movies like this anymore? It's a real story- a real romance that everyone can relate to. This film just exudes warmth, humour and just a whole lot of GOOD VIBES. The cast is amazing- no 2D Tinstletown types here. So if you want to get away from the highly improbable, sacharin sweet Meg Ryan comedy/romances of this world- just sit back with a hot cup of chocolate and watch this movie.

Why don't they make movies like this anymore? It's a real story- a real romance that everyone can relate to. This film just exudes warmth, humour and just a whole lot of GOOD VIBES. The cast is amazing- no 2D Tinstletown types here. So if you want to get away from the highly improbable, sacharin sweet Meg Ryan comedy/romances of this world- just sit back with a hot cup of chocolate and watch this movie.

This delightful movie has everything: warmth, cheer, humor, and a somewhat inconclusive ending, which often is the better option in a movie like this.
There are instances of mystery and whimsy too that surprise the viewer. The singer in the bar will catch you unaware and bring tears to your eyes.
Literary, bookish Amy Irving in her struggle to accept Peter Reiget, a young man of wisdom and sensitivity, and his pickle business, plays Izzy to perfection. Bubby and Anton Maul are also well realized.
This film is one you will want to buy and savor, year after year.

With the popularity of Romantic movies today, this movie would probably do pretty well if it were released now. Different look at a single Jewish woman's singleton.

This is THE romantic comedy of the '90's. I first saw this on a PLANE of all places, and fell in love. Peter Riegert (always great) is so wonderfully charming as a man who is far more than the sum of his parts. Amy Irving is wonderfully strong and vulnerable as a woman looking for. . .something more than a pickle salesman. Riegert is ever-mindful of his "place," and never ceases to amaze Izzy by being so. . .much. . .more. . .than he appears. Don't we all hope to be more than we appear? Isn't our real fear that we are so much less? This movie is a treasure.

"Crossing Delancey," directed by Joan Micklin Silver, tells the story of Isabelle (also known as "Izzy"), a single Jewish woman who lives in New York City and works for a bookstore. Izzy's loving but meddling Bubbie (i.e. grandmother), upset that Izzy is still single, sees a matchmaker about finding Izzy a husband. Izzy soon finds her life complicated by the results of Bubbie's actions.

"Crossing" is a sweet, gentle, and marvelously funny film. As Izzy, Amy Irving gives a wonderfully likeable and full-bodied performance. She is fun to watch as Izzy navigates her way through awkward social and professional situations. Irving gets terrific support from the rest of the cast, which includes Peter Riegert as a romantic pickle vendor and Jeroen Krabbe as a writer. Sylvia Miles is hilariously over-the-top as the matchmaker, and Reizl Borzyk nearly steals the film as Bubbie. Borzyk has particularly great chemistry with Irving.

The film features great New York scenes, and the visuals are full of wonderful details (such as a priceless storefront ad for Kosher wine). The script makes effective use of the ethnic theme. This is a simple story, but told with warmth and intelligence. And the film does ask a serious question: what do you really think is important in a potential life partner? For a great companion film, try "Kissing Jessica Stein," another delightful New York/Jewish romantic comedy.