A Couch in New York (1997)

When Dr. Henry Harriston (William Hurt) makes the uncharacteristically spontaneous decision to swap apartments with someone in Paris, he opens his life up to the possibility of new things. The woman who answers his ad is Beatrice Saulnier (Juliette Binoche), a dancer looking for respite from an onslaught of lovesick admirers. In New York, Beatrice inadvertently finds herself analyzing Henry's patients through a series of misunderstandings on their part that she is his replacement during his vacation. With help from her friend-secretary Anne (Stephanie Buttle), she continues Henry's practice and brings light and happiness to his patients, until Henry himself--who has returned early to New York--shows up and, his curiosity piqued by what seems to be going on, gains access to Beatrice as John Wire, a supposed patient of himself. What follows, and how it ends, makes for perhaps the most charming romantic comedy to come along in ages, and rivals the great Shop Around the Corner, Ernst Lubitsch's 1940 film. Binoche is impossibly charming, Hurt creates a wondrously believable suppressed psychoanalyst reborn through love, and Chantal Akerman as director pulls it all together with deft skill. --James McGrath Amazon.com

A couch in new york

The movie has to make me feel good to part with my hard earned money.
My collection are all in the feel good variety or some really good war movies. This movie makes me giggle. October 9, 2008

5 stars if only for the soundtrack

This is a charming romantic comedy with a very charismatic cast. I thought it pretty hilarious but I really want to plug the soundtrack which features the music of cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton. I think it is exceptional. August 20, 2008

A refreshing and clever comedy!

This smart plot deals with a mistaken exchange of apartment among a free-spirited dancer in Paris ( the glamorous Juliette Binoche) and a frazzled New York psychoanalyst, starred by this fabulous actor William Hurt. As you may guess the comic spiral of confusions, mistaken identities and a golden retriever made of this sympathetic films one of the most remarkable ones of this years.

Once more, Chantal Akerman proves us why she is still the flaming torch in this field of Belgium. Admirable direction and enjoyable performances al the way through.

A must see.
October 16, 2007

The Big Apple Meets....."La Binoche" ...For Delightful Fun

This review refers to the DVD(Fox Lorber) edition of "A Couch In New York"....

Dr. Henry Harriston(William Hurt) of Manhattan needs a break from his very dependent patients.He's an esteemed Psychoanalyst,works out of his upscale apartment,is compulsively neat, and needs a little change from his hum drum exsistence. Beatrice Saulnier(Juliette Binoche) of Paris could use a bit of a break herself.She's a beautiful dancer,has a long line of admirers who are constantly phoning or banging on the door of her little(no so upscale) loft, is a bit of a slob, and needs some quiet time away from her chaotic life. The Dr. puts an add in the Paris newspaper looking for someone to swap apartments for a while and Voila! the fun begins....

While Henry looses his patience in Paris, Beatrice takes on his patients in New York. But uh-oh..Henry can't take it anymore and decides to beat a retreat home. He is mistaken for one of the patients and has grand time being analyzed by La Binoche.

The film is an engaging, feel good romantic comedy, that will certianly leave you smiling.Mistaken identities lead to some very funny situations as the nuertoic patients now become dependent on Beatrice, and Beatrice tries to cure Henry.

Binoche as always, is enchanting, and Hurt plays it perfectly in this case of opposites attracting. The supporting cast including Richard Jenkins, Paul Guilfoyle, Bernard Breuse and Barbara Garrick are marvelous as patients, friends and jilted lovers of these two.All though there were times where it seemed to move just a little slow,this was a very sweet,light and enjoyable film that kept me smiling throughout.I loved the European flavor, scenery, and the music.

The DVD is a nice presentation in widescreen,sounds great in stereo.The film is in both English and French and has subtitles only during the French dialouge.There is no option for subtitles throughout the film for those that may need them though. There are filmographies of several of the stars and the Director Chantel Akerman, and also a trailer.

I would recommend this to fans of Juliette Binoche,french films, and anyone who loves a good romantic comedy along the lines of something like "Sabrina".

enjoy...Laurie January 23, 2004

Disappointing!

Although Juliette Binoche and William Hurt turn out imaginative perfomrances, this movie lacks dimension and reverts to the standard shrink/patient sketches through the middle of the movie that will have you sleeping on the couch. There was just not enough new material in the script to turn this into the comdeic romance that it should have been although it starts and ends well. March 12, 2003

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