Some movies struggle to find their actual release date, with some films gaining reputations for being stuck in development hell. However, a Rainy Day in New York, rather than being stuck in development hell, was actually stuck in a release date hell.
However, fortunately for those attached to the film, a Rainy Day in New York has finally started seeing releases around the globe. In order to prepare viewers for its release, there are things viewers can brush up on before watching.
Written And Directed By Woody Allen
The first thing that anyone should know about this film is that it was written and directed by the iconic American director, Woody Allen. The director is, perhaps, best known for his work on Annie Hall and Manhattan.
However, while Allen has a reputation for producing some classic films, he is also a controversial figure due to the allegations surrounding his past, leading to various issues with the production of the film.
Mixed Critical Response
The film has certainly taken its time to be released and, to some, they may have still been excited to see the movie, believing something along the lines of ‘good things come to those who wait’.
However, the film currently sits at 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics claiming that, while Timothée Chalamet is very good, the plot appears to be a rehash of Woody Allen’s best works.
First Released In Poland
As said in the introduction, the film was shelved with some wondering if the film was going to be released at all. However, after the licensing behind the distribution changed hands, the film eventually got ready for its release.
The film was first released in Poland on the 26th of July 2019, before it would eventually become the subject of a slow world wide release over the next few months.
Ties Into Classic Woody Allen Themes
Woody Allen is one of the most well known directors of the past few decades. The comedy director is, perhaps, most known for directing romantic comedies set in New York with a quick talking lead actor.
This film is no different from the likes of Annie Hall or Manhattan, being set in New York and focussing on a love story between two young characters.
All-Star Cast
The star power of Woody Allen, regardless of the allegations against the director, is enough to bring in some famous, talented actors. This film was no different, with several major actors signing on to star in a Rainy Day in New York.
In addition to Selena Gomez and Timothée Chalamet, Liev Schreiber, Jude Law, Elle Fanning, and Diego Luna all star in the romantic comedy.
Completed In 2018
As said in the introduction, this film had difficulties in being released. The film was initially completed in 2018 and set for release, but Amazon Studios decided to halt the release of the film after the controversy surrounding Woody Allen.
As a consequence, the film remained unreleased until it would eventually be released in Poland in 2019, with worldwide release taking place in 2020.
The Plot
As this is a Woody Allen movie, elements of the plot can be predicted fairly easily. For instance, it’s obviously set in New York and it’s a romantic comedy that features a geeky kind of guy trying to fix his relationship.
More specifically, however, the film follows a young college student as he goes to New York City to help better his relationship with his girlfriend, as she visits the Big Apple to interview a movie star.
Amazon Lawsuit
Originally, a Rainy Day in New York was set to be distributed by Amazon Studios, with Woody Allen signing up to release a minimum of four films with the online retailer turned movie production company.
However, after the MeToo allegations, Amazon saw the movie as no longer being marketable and shelved the project, before then ending their contract with Allen. In response, Allen took Amazon to court for $68 million dollars, citing unreasonable termination of a contract. Amazon gave the U.S. distribution rights to Woody Allen and then Amazon and Allen settled their dispute in November of 2019.
Salary Donations
Due to the impact of the Woody Allen allegations and the rise of the MeToo movement, several stars of the movie expressed their regret at choosing to work on the movie with Woody Allen, some of whom even went as far as to donate their entire salary to charity.
The most famous example of this was Timothée Chalamet, who donated his entire salary for a Rainy Day in New York RAINN, Time’s Up, and the LGBT Center of New York. Chalamet said that he didn’t want to profit from the movie, saying that he was inspired by the MeToo movement to donate his salary from the film to charity.
Woody Allen’s Biography
The controversy surrounding the film’s release didn’t go unanswered by Woody Allen, with the American director commenting on aspects of the controversy in his autobiography, Apropos of Nothing.
In this memoir, Woody Allen says that the reason why Timothée Chalamet denounced him was so that he could be considered for an Oscar for his work on Call Me By Your Name.