Autumn in New York

Lacking even a hint of originality or uniqueness, Autumn in New York is a Hallmark card redux of the Love Story-style tragically terminal romantic drama with a September-May twist. Richard Gere is an aging playboy who finally meets a girl (Winona Ryder) who could break him of his wandering ways--just as she's about to exit stage left courtesy of an incurable, vaguely cancerous heart condition, the only symptom of which is that she gets more gorgeous the more her health deteriorates. Besides being formulaic, shallow, syrupy, soft-focus hash, there's absolutely nothing distinguishing about either of the main characters. Beautifully photographed and directed as well as can be expected by Joan Chen, who proved she's better than this in her daring, accomplished and deeply moving directorial debut, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, this is not a necessary purchase. (R. Blackwelder)