When I picked up my copy of New York Stories, I immediately purchased it. I thought, "currently three of the best auteurs on one film - excellent"! But, when I watched it, I felt slightly disappointed. You see, it isn't such a bad collection of short movies, but I expected three rip-roaring shorts that would knock my socks off. It didn't happen. I expected three directors competing amongst themselves, to show what is best in American film. But it didn't quite turn out that way. Woody Allen's film is great, and the best - classic Woody, you could say. If you enjoy his movies, you will not be dissapointed. But, I suppose that's the benefit of being a director of comedies and starring yourself as the main character in most of your films: Comedies often work when not too long, hence all his films being approximately 90 minutes long; and, there's no need for character development with Woody, as you know what to expect - neurosis personified. Second would be Scorcese's short. A neat, solid film, with Scorcese's familiar style splashed all over. Nick Nolte is very good, and the story is decent enough. But I couldn't help feeling that the story could have been better if it was actually a normal 2-hour film, as it seems to be lacking in some areas. The story felt as if it needed more background, as it felt as if the characters needed more build-up to define more thoroughly the type of people they were. But, all in all a nice little movie. Francis-Ford Coppola's short is the let-down in this collection. The story has it's cute bits, and the main character, a rich, young girl, is played excellently by the youthful actress. But I felt as if the movie was trying to be too cute. Coppola has never made a movie of this type, with this kind of story, and it shows. I was expecting a thriller when I saw his name on the box, but I imagine he felt he couldn't reasonably expect a decent thriller in inside 30-40 minutes. All in all, a nice little package, especially if you're fans of Scorcese's or Woody Allen's films. But, it wasn't all that it could have been coming from three of the best - if not THE best - in current American directorial talent.