Lulu on the Bridge (1999)

Instant Favorite.

How sad is this?

Fresh and Exciting

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Here's a movie that has a Zero Rating at Rotten Tomatoes. It has some tremendously bad acting. The story ends in a way that most viewers seem cheated. Its poorly edited and photographed. But it still worked for me because the idea is so clever that I happily make the leap, completing the movie.Here's the general shape: man is shot and lays dying. He has a vision of girl who he falls in love with, a magical stone causes this. (This is a piece of plaster that falls on him when he is shot.) Its a sweet love story and the magical nature is apt for a movie about an inner movie.But there are two complications that help. One is that our hero is captured and quizzed. Some dreary writing and the roughest parts of the film are associated with this bit. Its the second complication that has a special sparkle. Our girl is an out of work actress who — again magically — gets the starring role as Lulu in a remake of "Pandora's Box." This is perhaps the most sexually charged film of all time: a perfect confluence of actress, svengali filmmaker and the cinematic properties of silent film-making. Its a rather clever fold, yeah? A film about an inner film of love that both references and includes a landmark film. Its being made in Joyce's Dublin by a character played by Vanessa Redgrave.More: our guy is particularly fond of "Singing in the Rain."The fact that the girl in this case is profoundly unsexy and unappealing in most ways deepens the notion for me.It works, if you let it.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

After taking part on "Smoke" and directing "Blue in the face" Paul Auster kept on feeding his cinematographic interests with this "Lulu on the Bridge". He count one more time on his friend Harvey Keitel who plays a jazz musician whose life gets shattered because of a shot. He'll get his energies back thanks to a delicious an adorable girl called Celia (Mira Sorvino, why don't they hire her for the big productions? Jesus, she's a hell of an actress, and so gorgeous!!)."Lulu" is a story that deals with real, intense and true love, full of symbols (nothing is as it seems here). The beginning of the movie, when Izzy (Keitel) and Celia meet is much more interesting and moving than the final parts, which are a little bit confusing.Auster demonstrates his talent behind the camera and his good taste choosing actors and music.*My rate: 7/10

If I rate this movie up to 10 on 10, it's because i consider this movie as the best love story ever. Well, i must admit that my over-sized romantic side may be kind of subjective.. But when you see Izzy and Celia looking at each over that way.... You can see true love, the one, the best, the last.(Great actors!!!) And all of the magical stuff is just an allegory to the"love at first sight" and the intangible way of falling in love:Izzy isn't handsome...(well, Harvey is full of charisma, but...) Celia is divine(Who couldn't fall in love with her when she smiles?) They are forevermore in love.... Then Willem Dafoe comes...Satan...the splitter(that's what "Satan" means). Hard times... This film is not an easy going film, it's just beautiful. Celia, i will always love you, i wish i had been Izzy for half a minute...

Like many of New York City waitresses, Celia Burns is an aspiring actress. Izzy Maurer, a jazz saxophonist recovering from a gunshot wound, contacts her after finding her name along with a stone having magical properties, one of which propels them into a love affair. Through her talent, and friends of Izzy's ex-wife, Celia is able to land the part of Lulu, one which most actresses could only dream of. Izzy is held captive and Celia chased by a mysterious man claiming to have a doctorate in anthropology who wants the magical stone. It is only at the film's end that the discerning viewer understands what has really transpired. The all star cast does not disappoint.