Old New York Movies

Finally watching some classics

I love consuming "old New York" content. This is largely because I wish that I could've experienced New York as a young adult in the twentieth century—preferably in the 80s or 90s. There's something very appealing about an unknown era.

Objectively, it's better to be a twenty-something in 2024. There's the obvious reason: crime and racism in New York used to be a lot worse. Still, I can't help but romanticize living in a time without the Internet, social media, and smartphones. Wouldn't it be cool to meet people serendipitously? To navigate via a paper map instead of Google? My mom also moved here in the early 80s and had a good time, so it can't have been all bad for Asian women back then.

A few old films I’ve enjoyed this summer are:

1. Taxi Driver (1976)

I had seen bits of this but never watched it in its entirety. Travis, played by Robert De Niro, is a problematic guy implied to be suffering from PTSD. You probably already know what this movie is about; Jodie Foster plays a child prostitute named Iris who Travis aspires to save. What I liked most about this wasn't the story, though. The best thing about Taxi Driver is Travis—developing empathy for him and having to watch helplessly as his mental state declines. Even though he's nuts and does a lot of bad things, I found myself always rooting for him.

Taxi Driver was filmed when New York City was on the verge of bankruptcy. Certain neighborhoods look like artifacts of the past. For instance, I don't think pornographic movie theaters exist anymore, but it looks like they were all over midtown west back then. I was also struck by how the East Village in the 1970s looks the same today, over half a century later.

The biggest nostalgic takeaway for me was the yellow cabs. While I don't miss taking them, I do miss their aesthetic. I grew up in Manhattan, so I've witnessed the disappearance of yellow cabs and physical Metrocards in my lifetime. This realization didn't hit me until I watched this film, which is kind of nuts.

Final note: I've been listening to Betsy's Theme from the soundtrack on repeat. It’s addictive.

2. After Hours (1985)

I hadn't heard of After Hours until last month. It's also a Scorsese film, which initially surprised me. There aren't any gangsters in it, but there are plenty of seedy characters. And like in Taxi Driver, New York's griminess kind of becomes a character in itself.

Our protagonist is a bored office worker named Paul who has a meet-cute with a girl named Marcy. She leaves him her number. (Side note: The actress who plays Marcy bears a strong resemblance to Maya Hawke.) Later that night, Paul calls Marcy. Marcy asks him to come downtown to her place in Soho despite it being almost midnight. What ensues is a terrible night for Paul, full of mishaps and misunderstandings.

It was funny to see Soho, which today is like Manhattan's outdoor shopping mall, portrayed as a seedy, crime-ridden neighborhood. In After Hours, Paul is the straight-cut yuppie who makes the mistake of venturing downtown. Bit of a shock to see Soho without all the fashion girlies and the lines to get into Supreme and Kith.

3. Interiors (1978)

This is a Woody Allen movie. And yes, I know he's canceled. I still like his movies, sorry (not sorry)! Many great artists are also horrible people. It's too much for me to keep up with. If you haven't seen Annie Hall, you're missing out. Anyway, that's my disclaimer.

Interiors is a family drama in which three sisters deal with the fallout after their father leaves their mother. As expected, the separation creates tension, leading to arguments over who should care for their distressed mother.

Like many other Woody Allen films, Interiors is about yuppies and upper middle class problems. It's a movie that showcases the affluence of New York back then—mostly on the Upper East Side. The characters are smartly dressed and their homes are beautifully decorated, offering a different perspective from the other films mentioned.

4. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

   

I wanted to watch this when I realized that it's where the famous line “I'm walkin' here!” comes from. I expected it to have some funny moments, but it turned out to be one of the most depressing films I've seen this year—perhaps second only to Au revoir les enfants. While there are some humorous scenes, the overall tone is quite tragic, so prepare yourself.

The story follows a young Texan "cowboy" named Joe, who takes a bus to New York in search of bigger things. He aspires to earn money as a male prostitute. Joe is kind-hearted and naive, which leads him into some unfortunate situations, including being conned and ultimately facing homelessness. Much of the film is set in a condemned apartment where Joe and his friend Rico squat in during a harsh winter.

One scene that particularly stood out to me features Joe and Rico being invited to an underground party. When they arrive, they find themselves in a spacious loft filled with artists and socialites. I can't help but think that kind of gathering doesn’t happen anymore unless you're at a multi-millionaire's event—modern New York is just too developed for that.