Woody Allen's colourful recreation of 1920s Broadway. Cusack is
hilarious as David Shayne, an idealistic writer ("I'm an
artist!") who dreams of putting his latest play on to Broadway
without compromising his glorious vision. However, when a backer in
the form of a local gangster materialises, he grudgingly accepts the
condition that the gangster's "actress" girlfriend play a
leading role, becoming increasingly hysterical as her lack of talent
becomes apparent, and further irked by her bodyguard's repeated
attempts to improve on the dialogue. A fantastic ensemble cast and
first-rate production design make for entertaining, rich spectacle.
