Without a doubt my favorite Woody Allen flick from the 90s. BULLETS is an intricately written and deeply funny screenplay brought brilliantly to life both in front of and behind the camera. Thankfully, Allen had the sense to cast Cusack in the role he usually reserves for himself. The story takes place in 1920s New York and centers on David Shayne (Cusack), a struggling young writer trying to get his first play produced on Broadway. Though his girlfriend Ellen (Parker) believes he's a genius, he is plagued by self-doubt. His happiness at finally finding a backer – gangster Nick Valenti (Viterelli) – quickly turns to abject horror when he is forced to cast Valenti's bimbo girlfriend Olive (Tilly) in the play. She is so dumb and untalented he gives her the smallest female part. Unfortunately, it's the role of a psychiatrist, a word she can't even pronounce, yet is expected to play.

Olive's presence in the show devastates David, however, his mood picks up dramatically once he is able to gather his dream cast in the other roles. His hope is that their talent will conceal Olive's many shortcomings. The presence of the world-renowned Helen Sinclair (Wiest) does wonders for his ego...and eventually his sex life. The usual cast squabbles ensue as rehearsals begin with all the actors vying for a bigger piece of the spotlight. After a few readings it becomes clear that the play isn't working. Everyone begins to put their two cents in, even Olive's bodyguard Cheech (Palminteri), who's forced to sit through every rehearsal. David is stunned that everyone, including Ellen and Helen, think that Cheech's ideas will make the play better, causing him to have a major meltdown. He threatens to quit, but the allure of a Broadway hit is too strong for him to resist.