Classic Film Reviews: Groundhog Day

Something about this year's mild winter tells me that Punxsutawney Phil won't be seeing his shadow on February 2. Before the shadow reveals itself (or not), you've got a chance to experience a few Groundhog Day's with the curmudgeonly Bill Murray on the big screen at Citi Pond for our Winter Film Fest.

Groundhog Day 
By Desson Howe
February 12, 1993

Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky

You go to see Bill Murray -- not the movie he's in. No matter how mediocre the film, time spent with him is always rewarding. That absurdist deadpan has served him since the Carter-era "Saturday Night Live." And in his latest, "Groundhog Day," the shtick is still funny.
For a time, the movie's pretty good too. "Groundhog" will never be designated a national film treasure by the Library of Congress. But, in terms of vehicle selection, this is one of the better ones Murray has hitched himself to. In fact, its "Twilight Zone"-type premise (scripted by Danny Rubin and director Harold Ramis) is initially intriguing.

A people-hating weatherman on a Pittsburgh TV station, Murray's waiting for his real ship to come in. "For your information, Hairdo," he asserts to a well-coiffed colleague at WPBH, "there's a news channel interested in me."

Until that questionable possibility, however, he must content himself with such hated aspects of his job as the annual trip on Groundhog Day. For this inane (to his mind) festival, he must join the reporting flocks at Punxsutawney, Pa., to catch the yearly appearance of the spring-determining rodent. If the divining "Punxsutawney Phil" sees his furry shadow, six more weeks of winter are due. If he doesn't, the thaw is on. Now back for his fourth Groundhog Day, Murray -- with producer Andie MacDowell and cameraman Chris Elliott -- waits impatiently for the day to end.

But this time, it doesn't. After a full day's work at the festival, Murray wakes up to exactly the same morning -- Groundhog Day II. The clock radio plays "I Got You Babe" like it did the morning before. An impending blizzard is announced once more. Stephen Tobolowsky, a horrifying nerd from Murray's high-school past now in insurance, recognizes him -- again. Even MacDowell and Elliott are gearing up to film the festival as if for the first time.

Murray realizes he's stuck in time. No matter what he does, the next day is the same day. Only he remembers. This allows him to anticipate trouble. "Ned, I would love to stand here and talk with you," he tells Tobolowsky at their umpteenth chance meeting. "But I'm not going to."

The time/space dilemma presents a variety of options, from fun to purgatorial. Murray is immortal, in effect. He can survive death games. He can teach himself piano. He can find out basic information from attractive local Marita Geraghty, for instance, then wow her the next time around with apparent inside knowledge. But he becomes increasingly interested in MacDowell and spends most of the time working on her. But he only has a day to impress her; it's back to square one at 6 the next morning.

The trouble is, you'll feel like you've been through too many same days yourself. With its zany daily episodes, "Groundhog" gets stuck in a non-progressive repetition. It's also headed for the usual Hollywood Life Lesson, in which Murray's moral winter must thaw.

But even through the most creatively frigid sections, Murray is amusing as he reacts to the longest day of his life. He gets to work on that recurring Tobolowsky meeting, for one thing. The best way to send the insurance agent screaming into the distance, Murray finds, is to embrace him for a suggestively long moment, caress his back and say: "I don't know where you're needed, but couldn't you call in sick?"

 
© Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company

The Winning Bottle

Thanks for voting to choose our new waterbottle design. Our Urban Designer Neha Sabnis created five thoughtful options for our signature Klean Kanteen, but we are only able to produce one to sell in the Bryant Park Shop. Your votes have been tallied, and a winner has been selected with an overwhelming majority of almost 50%.

Two Chairs it is! Neha will work with our design team to tweak the style slightly and test a prototype. The basic concept for the two chairs design will remain relatively the same, and should hit the shelves this Spring. Look for the opportunity to purchase it at our online store in early to mid March.

News from the MidCity: Get Your Citi Storybook

To make it even easier to enjoy Bryant Park this early winter, Citi (generous sponsor of Citi Pond for seven years running) has created the Citi Storybook, a free six-page brochure packed with information and special deals.

Those deals include an opportunity to buy tickets to the Broadway comedy Stick Fly at 30% off, and discounts at Celsius, ’wichcraft, Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Cafe, and Papyrus when using a Citi credit card or Citi Debit MasterCard.

You’ll also find a schedule of four Music Nights at Citi Pond. The series, which includes DJs and one live performance and features a different musical genre each night, kicks off on Friday, January 27, with 80’s Music Night. The remaining dates are Wednesday, February 1 with R&B/Soul/Hip Hop Night; Friday, February 10, with a live Jazz performance produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center; and Friday, February 17, with Classic Rock Night. All music nights are from 7:00-9:00pm. You also get $4 off skate rental during that time.

The Citi Storybook includes incentives to open an account at Citi. You can pick one up at Bryant Park, or at any Citi branch in New York.



This is an excerpt from Bryant Park's weekly newsletter, MidCity News, written by Terry Benoit. MidCity News keeps park enthusiasts informed about our events, milestones, operations, and all of the detailed maintenance work that goes into caring for the park. Weekly updates are sent with our sister organizations 34th Street Partnership and Chelsea Improvement Company. 

You can view this week's edition of MidCity News online, or sign up to receive it in your inbox. 

Dance Parties on Ice

Bounce, sway and glide to a new tune. Themed music nights are coming from 7pm - 9pm on select days at Citi Pond. Choose your favorite music style for a dance party on ice.

Friday, January 27
Music of the '80s

Wednesday, February 1
Hip Hop/R&B

Friday, February 10
Live quintet, produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center

Friday, February 17
Classic Rock

Classic Film Reviews: When Harry Met Sally...

Before you roll your eyes at another romantic comedy, see what Peter Travers had to say about When Harry Met Sally... in his 1989 Rolling Stone review. This "ravishing, romantic lark brimming over with style, intelligence and flashing wit" is not a cheesy formulaic flick.  From Katz's to Washington Square Park, to autumn in Central Park, see this quintessential New York film tonight at another New York classic, the Winter Film Festival at Citi Pond at Bryant Park.

When Harry Met Sally...
By Peter Travers
July 21, 1989

Attention, sequel sufferers: If you're already bleary and reeling from too many hard-sell blockbusters, Rob Reiner offers welcome relief. Reiner's fifth feature, following This Is Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, Stand by Me and The Princess Bride (not a loser in the bunch), is a ravishing, romantic lark brimming over with style, intelligence and flashing wit. The movie begins with a man and a woman in a car, and the car doesn't crash. That's the first thing that wins you over.

Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron (Heartburn) start the plot whirling in 1977. Sally (Meg Ryan) is giving Harry (Billy Crystal), her girlfriend's lover, a ride from Chicago to New York. He's too pushy and vulgar for her; she's too hoity-toity for him. Harry thinks a man and woman can't be friends without sex becoming an issue. "Even when the woman is unattractive?" Sally asks. "You want to nail them, too," says he. Harry and Sally may be a match made in hell, but watching them is movie heaven.

For the next eleven years, Harry, a political consultant, and Sally, a journalist, labor to stay in friendship and out of each other's bed. In New York, rapturously shot by Barry Sonnenfeld (Big, Raising Arizona), they are the walking wounded, oblivious to the ardent atmosphere. Harry's wife (Harley Kozak) has dumped him for a tax attorney; Sally's fella (Steven Ford) is planning a wedding but not with Sally. Harry sets up his pal (Bruno Kirby) with Sally, and Sally pairs up her chum (a sly, sassy Carrie Fisher) with Harry. Disaster. Kirby and Fisher become lovers instead, having little patience with two people who can't see the obvious: They were meant for each other.

Other things are also obvious. The plot, for example. You can see the ending coming for miles. You can also see that the film, with its simple opening credits, lush Manhattan setting, Jew-Gentile love match and jazzy soundtrack of standards from the Thirties and Forties (with Harry Connick Jr. warbling and tickling the ivories), begs comparison to Woody Allen. So what? Woody, now stuck in a turgid mode, has long since abandoned Annie Hall territory.

Reiner has picked up the ball and given it his own unique spin. From Crystal and Ryan he has drawn starmaking performances. Crystal, surprisingly tender, isn't afraid to show the bruises on his brash character: In one scene with Ryan in a department store, Crystal launches into an impromptu song; he's regained some of his former spirit. Then his exwife appears, and the sight of her reduces him to emotional rubble. In a few seconds, Crystal's face takes measure of what gets lost in a marriage. This is his most heartfelt and hilarious screen work.

Meg Ryan may be too much of a beauty for the hapless Sally, a fussy horror in restaurants and a jumble of insecurities in love. Still, why nit-pick over such a thoroughly beguiling portrayal? Too long the best thing in bad movies (Promised Land, The Presidio), Ryan has finally found the vehicle that allows her talents full rein. Whether she's being deflated by men ("Why didn't he want to marry me?") or doing the deflating (the scene in which she fakes an orgasm in a crowded deli deserves a prime spot in the comedy time capsule), Ryan is sweet, sexy and rip-roaringly funny.

From time to time, Reiner breaks up the story with documentary interviews with older couples who tell what brought them together. My favorite is the woman who explains that you know a great relationship like "you know a great melon." A similar instinct applies to movies. You can tell When Harry Met Sally … is a winner by the way it leaves a smile on your face that lasts all the way home.

Bryant Park Blog Q&A with Chef Jehangir Mehta

The Kids Food Festival brings healthy, fun food to the park and Citi Pond this weekend with a two day fest celebrating the aspiring chefs in your household. Chefs and brands will be on hand with samples, demonstrations and live music teaching the kids that healthy habits can also be quite tasty.

Throughout the festival, the James Beard Foundation Future Foodies Pavilion will feature an impressive rotation of chefs, leading hands-on demonstrations for the little ones. Chef Jehangir Mehta, owner of NYC restaurants Mehtaphor and Graffiti, gives a preview of the recipe he'll be making at his three sessions this weekend, and a little insight into his inspiration as a chef.

What was the first recipe you remember making as a child? 
Scrambled eggs w/ cilantro and chili; the reason why we have "Green Eggs and Ham" on our breakfast menu at Mehtaphor.

Did you have an “a-ha!” moment that made you want to be a chef?
I like Oprah, but I don't have these kind of "a-ha" moments.

What inspires you in the kitchen? 
Chefs that I have worked with for a very long time and my team.

When dining out with the little ones, is it kosher to bring a kiddy meal from home? 
No.  You would be setting a tone that they should not be open minded to trying different foods.  I believe it's important to expose children to all kinds of foods that are available.

What is your secret talent?
I have an eye for art and furniture.

What recipe will you be demonstrating at the Kids Food Festival? What makes this recipe kid friendly? 
I will be demonstrating, "Onion Seed Shrimp, Oyster Mushrooms, Mung Bean Salad."  A recipe that is "kid friendly" is easy, healthy, and uses ingredients kids like.

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be? 
An art collector.

Shop the (Extended) Season: Now through February

Last year marked the longest season for ice skating in the park yet. Citi Pond and Celsius were able to stay open through the end of February after Fashion Week found a new home at Lincoln Center.

And this year we've created a food court on the Fountain Terrace by inviting ten of our favorite vendors from The Holiday Shops to remain open through February 26 as well. You'll find some vendors in the same locations: Crepe Cafe, Aroma, Pickle Me Pete and Kettle Corn NYC, but others have moved from around the park, including TopArepa, Vegetarian Oasis, Big Apple Cider, Wafels & Dinges and Mmm... Enfes. We've also added Down on the Farm into the mix to help you stay toasty warm, while you spend more time outside tasting and skating.

You're in for a tasty winter!

Click image above to view PDF Brochure.