2008 Woodie Awards
A crazy night out in NYC
Nick and Norah is a great romp through New York City's indie music scene
Katy Coil
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Features
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Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a film that lets you do all of that while sitting in the relative comfort of the movie theatre.
Based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan, the movie is a heartfelt, clever romp around the NYC music scene as main characters Nick O'Leary (Michael Cera) and Norah Silverberg (Kat Dennings) discover the meanings of love, life and what sort of songs come together to make a great mix CD.
The plot is a little predictable, but nonetheless fun to follow along with. It's different from other movies of the genre, which usually end up with someone getting a makeover or a cheesy last-minute realization about someone's true good nature.
Nick and Norah is more authentic than that. The characters are all believable as hipster teenagers. And though their romp around New York City probably doesn't happen very much in real life, it is entertainingly hilarious to be along for the ride with them.
Nick is brokenhearted over his ex Tris (Alexis Dziena), the resident mean girl of Norah's private school. A straight bassist and occasional drum machine operator of a queer-core band, Nick spends his time making Tris mix CDs, which she tosses into the garbage for Norah to find.
Norah herself is the indie-rock-loving Jewish daughter of a big time record producer. This allows her to get into any club she wants right away, even if it's just to use the bathroom. Nick is goaded into playing a show with his friends that night while he and Norah both look forward to seeing the band Where's Fluffy do a return show in the city.
Norah goes to the show of The Jerk-Offs, Nick's band, to find a sneering Tris there with her new boy-toy, Gary (Zachary Booth). Naturally, chaos ensues.
In order to prove she isn't a loser, Norah hooks up with Nick, who is still moping over his ex and completely stunned that she showed up to his show. Nick and Norah are momentarily caught in one of those I-saw-you-across-the-room hazes then all seems ruined when Norah's drunk friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) needs to be taken home.
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