2012. Dir: Woody Allen. Starring: Woody Allen, Roberto Benigni, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page and Penelope Cruz. ●●○○○
There's good and bad news to consider when reviewing Woody Allen's latest Eurocentric release. On the positive side it's not an offensively bad film there are a lot of nice moments of subtle amusement and clever tie ins to the history and genre of comedy and in that respect Allen has clearly carefully considered the outline of To Rome with Love. Unfortunately once the spark had been formulated it seems the creativity quickly stopped. Much has been written over the years about how Allen moves quickly from project to project without retrospection, so it's possible he had one eye on his next San Francisco set movie whilst in post, or maybe the pressure of plugging last years delightful Midnight in Paris was too much? Either way that simply isn't good enough, having some good ideas and tossing off some throwaway jokes for the characters won't make the finished project anything more than a pseud on celluloid.
There are a couple of significant milestones that take place in Woody's Italian holiday. In the first instance it appears to be the last leg of his current European tour, which started with Match Point, with it's London locale in 2005, and has since visited Barcelona, Paris and now Rome, although this was broken by his New York travesty Whatever Works, an obscene piece of misogyny masquerading as free-spirited liberality. Notably WW followed Vicky Cristina Barcelona which wowed critics and made $23m in the US box office, this allowed Woody to fund a US set film, which flopped and sent him back to his gallic backers cap in hand. So when last years Midnight in Paris took over $56m, the highest ever box office take for one of Woody's directorial efforts, he once again returned to America. This also marks the first time Woody has directed in a foreign language, sure there were snippets of Spanish in Barcelona, but the story focussed on American tourists and the language barrier was used to exclude our heroines from the action. Here half of the film is in Italian, with two of the four storylines featuring no English at all.
The film opens with a traffic policeman talking to camera, introducing the variety of life he sees from the roundabout by the Coliseum in broken, effete english. There's the American student and the Italian socialist and the absurdest clash of cultures when their prospective parents meet, there's the sex farce involving newlyweds a film star and a prostitute, there's an ordinary middle class man who will wake up one morning to find his life overturned in a satire on celebrity culture and there's wordplay and insight as an architect takes a walk down memory lane. There isn't much that connects the segments, other than mostly taking place in a public and (possibly) geographically suspect version of the eternal city. They all belong to a heightened reality, but the closest to our normal perception would be the farce, and the timeframes are all over the place ranging from a few hours to over six months. This lack of connecting tissue hamstrings the movie as a whole, as we jump from scene to scene between each competing plot it feels as unstructured as a ramdom chat with a traffic warden, meandering through four simultaneous jokes, weakening the punchlines of all of them.
The most interesting strand involves Alec Baldwin as a gifted artisan, wasting his talent on designing shopping malls, strolling though the back streets reminiscing about his gap year decades ago, when he stumbles on student Jesse Eisenberg there's a look of recognition and soon Baldwin is sagely offering advice to the lovestruck youth, torn between his live-in girlfriend Greta Gerwig (utterly wasted) and her seductive best pal Ellen Page. There's a fascinating premise hidden underneath the usual Allen mannerisms and stock characterisations concerning the emotional scripts we live by and how we're the sum of our experiences, supported by sly sarcasm mixed with genuine pathos from Baldwin. It's a shame that Eisenberg is forced to play the Allen surrogate (he even uses them in films he stars in!) and Page's actress vamp has no ultimately redeeming qualities other than her sex appeal. Although I confess Allen might be using that to underline the unreliable narrative of memory.
On the other end of the scale, in that the concept seems cliched, is the neurotic adventures of Alessandro Tiberi and Alessandra Mastronardi. Arriving for the first time in Rome, their Honeymoon also needs to double up as an interview for Tiberi, when he introduces his wife to the disapproving in-laws who run the family business (no, I don't believe it's an Olive Oil import company). When Mastronardi nips out for a haircut she gets hopelessly lost in the big city and (in a nod to classic Commedia dell'arte stories) local call girl Penelope Cruz gets drafted in to impersonate her. Hijinks ensue. As I've said before Allen should be applauded for trying something different here, but his erudite script, even when translated, is too wordy to allow the inevitable bedhopping any momentum, in spite of how hard the cast are working.
Roberto Benigni gets his chance to shine in the segment addressing the sham of celebrity, morphing from incredulous to bitterness to craving his fifteen minutes of fame with ease, but alas the segment messages are hammer home by some needlessly profound speeches from his chauffeur. Finally the segment involving Allen himself boasts a shrewdly bitchy turn from Judy Davis but the opera in the shower plot and cheap national stereotyping makes it the one to skip through on the DVD.
On the craft side there's nothing of note here, but at least there's nothing negative.
For the ideas alone this might have been a worthwhile entry in Woody Allen's canon but he fails to bring the script up to the necessary standard making this one for the fans only.
Thursday, 20 September 2012
To Rome with Love
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Jesse Eisenberg
Happy Birthday to
Jesse Eisenberg
28 today
The New York native is heading into a vital strategic place in his career, in the past he's always been known as the nerdy geek but last years Social Network revealed a hitherto hidden depth and it'll be interesting to see what types of roles he gets offered/goes for in the next few years. I'm curious to see how Woody Allen alike he is in Woody Allen's Italian venture The Bop Decameron.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Who's the Ringmaster (Out this week - 16/09/11)
It's crazy busy this week with twelve different releases heading to a screen near you, although to be fair many of those have very limited distribution strategies. Frankly most of them look quite weak too with really only 4-5 that even look vaguely watchable. On the other hand we've suddenly broken free from the grip of disappointing summer blockbusters and entered the first half of the pedigree movie season with the first movie to get 8 on the excitometer since March, film of the week Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The awards season kicks off smartly with this tense spy-catcher thriller adapted from the classic John Le Carre and directed by Let the Right One In helmer Tomas Alfredson who brings his murky palette and slow-burn tension. With an impeccable cast of Brit thesps including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt and Tom Hardy expect this to be the first big entry into the Oscar fray.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
30 Minutes or Less
In no way related to the recent case of a law-abiding US citizen having a bomb strapped to them and forced to rob a bank, this is a film about a law-abiding US citizen having a bomb strapped to them and forced to rob a bank. I'm glad we cleared that up. Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari star as the hapless robbers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
I Don't Know How she Does it
I'm not really looking forward to this Sarah Jessica Parker star-vehicle concerning a modern woman balancing her family and business lives whilst proving she's able to have it all, but I am looking forward to reading the critical reaction to this sex-and-the-city-lite rubbish. Greg Kinnear takes the money and runs as SJP's supportive hubbie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Tomboy
Description on the back of a fag packet, French teenage Boy's Don't Cry, although one hopes the finale for this 12 year old loner trying to fit in with a new crowd is far less tragic.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Atrocious
More found footage hokum with this Spanish/Mexican co-production reassembling the final days of Cristian Quintanilla and his siblings. Mercifully the film is only 77 minutes long, compared to the 37 hours of recorded footage referred to in the back story.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Change-up
Body-swap comedy which proves two things. Primarily that the sub-genre should just be abandoned and ignored for all eternity and secondarily that Ryan Reynolds, whilst cute, does not have the fanbase to open a movie. Jason Bateman is the other swapper and Alan Arkin provides a little support.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Turnout
Hoxton set crime pic with a young, impestuous couple finding themselves in murky water as they try to fund their ambitious holiday plans. Probably will find an audience, if only because it showcases the big screen debut of Ben Drew, aka Plan B.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Vanthaan Vendraan
Tamil action comedy, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. OK, I admit I know nothing about this pic, even having watched the trailer, although it was shot in some lovely locations.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Big Fat Gypsy Gangster
Seemingly titled purely to capture the growing trend to support the UK travelling community (Channel 4 and Big Brother have a lot to answer for) it's another by the books British gangster pic with "the most dangerous man in Britain" regaining his criminal empire after a spell inside.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Episode 50
Making Atrocious (above) look like high-art is this American found footage horror about the final episode of a spook-debunked cable TV programme in which the hosts scepticism is put to the test and all their rationalist assumptions fall apart like badly plotted horror pics.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Thomas and Friends: Day of the Diesels
Very limited release for a pre-DVD showing of the latest variation on a theme by Rev W Awdry. Very little is known about the cast and crew of the project - at least not on IMDb - so I don't know if Ringo Starr is back voicing the titular blue steam engine.
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You Instead
If you wanted to go to V festival but couldn't make it then this may be the picture for you this week with Luke Treadaway and Natalie Tena starring as feuding rock stars accidently handcuffed together at the music/mud event. If you were happy to stay at home then I expect you'll want to give this a miss too.
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Friday, 8 July 2011
Illuminating the Almighty (Out this week - 08/07/11)
This week I'm all about joining the conversation. Everytime Terence Malick makes a movie it's front page news, the masterful arthouse agitator is able to present concepts that few understand let alone consider when going to the local multiplex. It's an odd week for films otherwise with the gap between Transformers and Harry Potter being curiously empty of big box office releases meaning anything could happen at the top of the chart. I confess I'm wary about the film, but I will go and film of the week must therefore be: The Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life
It's the most talked about movie of 2011, and a cinematic marvel that has enraged and astounded critics in equal measure. Eschewing conventional narrative Malick charts the history of the universe and our relationship to God through the experiences of one family in small town America. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain are the twin forces of Nature and Grace (or Father and Mother) that battle for the control of their son Hunter McCracken, later Sean Penn.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Holy Rollers
Pleasing looking comedy with Jesse Eisenberg as an Hasidic jew, bored with his early twenties closeted life, finding himself embroiled in a smuggling ring carrying pot over international borders.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Super
The film that Kick-Ass could've been. With Rainn Wilson's fragile mental state tipping over the edge after his girlfriend leaves him and electing the way of the masked vigilante dishing out extreme violence. Ellen Page co-stars as his sidekick "Boltie".
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Film Socialisme
If you thought Terence Malick had the arthouse market cornered this week stand by for Jean-Luc Godard's symphony in three movements, where he explores his various passions with little linking structure to the snippets of conversations and moods he films. Godard (80) has threatened this will be his last movie so it could well be worth catching for that reason alone.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Princess de Montpensier
The film I really want to see next week looks like it may be the hardest to find, with a distinctly limited independent release pattern. Based on the true story of an affair that nearly ripped apart the French court, the film won dedicated admirers at Toronto last year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sawako Decides
Japanese comic drama about female empowerment, certainly the most leftfield film to come from Japan this year it opens with a intimate scene of colonic irrigation.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Trust
Former "Friend" David Schwimmer continues to confound all expectations with his directorial career, shifting from Simon Pegg comedy Run Fatboy Run to this paedophilia drama, exhibiting the worst case scenario from teenagers dating on the net. Clive Owen and Catherine Keener (as the parents) headline the cast that also includes Liana Liberato as the vulnerable daughter and Viola Davis.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Devil's Rock
New Zealander horror movie, set on the channel islands during the second world war with two Kiwi commandos uncovering a secret Nazi occult plot. Sounds like a well-worn cliche of a plot, but there must be an audience for this sort of thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Murder 2
Bollywood sequel to the 2004 film "Murder", which at least makes sense of the title.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○p
Venghai
Tamil action thriller that translates to Leopard and involves Dhanush rising up against his aggressors like the invoked big cat.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○p
Huge
Film about stand-up, starring a whole host of stars of the British comedy circuit, that somehow fails to be either funny or insightful about the cutthroat business. Probably best avoided.
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There's something odd going on in the world of Bollywood releases, with a large number of smaller films getting a limited release at a couple of cinema over the next week or so. I've seperated them from the wide releases and included only the most basic plot descriptions (sorry about that), hopefully if you're interested you'll still want to find out more.
Rang Rasiya
Biopic of 19th century Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma. In Hindi, originally released in 2008.
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Veettilekkulla Vazhi
Malayalam movie about a doctor reuniting the 5 year old child of a terrorist who dies in his care with their father.
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Friday, 8 April 2011
Bird in Paradise (Out this week - 08/04/11)
It certainly isn't a classic week, with the box office clash between 2 animated behemoths, neither of which are in any way aimed at me, and a selection of horror, low-rent sci-fi and Bollywood entries packing them in. Personally I doubt I'll be bothering with the cinema this weekend - far too busy - however because it's tradition the film of the week will be Rio.
Rio
It's unlikely to turn many heads or to be remembered as we draw to the years close, but this colourful CGI creation could provide adequate laughs for the small ones. Jesse Eisenberg is a nervy Maccaw unable to fly, Anne Hathaway the only female of the same sub-species - sounds like justification for arranged marriages. The supporting cast includes Jamie Foxx.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Silent House
Haunted house picture from Uruguay, supposedly based on a true story, and filmed in one continuous take. I would question from the trailer whether the title is accurate, as the house in question seems to be harbouring a vast amount of noise.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Mars needs Moms
The Robert Zemeckis produced mo-cap 3D comedy which may end up being most predominantly remember for crashing at the US box office bring down Zemeckis' plan to remake Yellow Submarine and providing the tipping point for the collapse of 3D predominance. Joan Cusack is the Mom the Martians want.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Rubber
Inventive horror which gives sentient life to an abandoned car tyre out for revenge. Oddly I saw a similar short several years ago which had a romance storyline and I do wonder if these are related? I also wonder if the surreal starting point can be maintained for over 20 minutes?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thank You
Moralistic romantic Hindi comedy about a group of lads serial womanizing behind their wives backs ho suddenly get a dose of reality from the independent women. I expect the pathos and laughs will be evenly dolled out and that everyone will be happy when the credits roll.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Tomorrow, When the War Began
Aussie invasion movie, with a group of teens returning from a camping/wild drinking party to find their neighbourhood turned into a guerilla-type war zone and they form a resistance army to protect the home town. Probably not realistic in the slightest, apparently this is the first in an intended trilogy.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Vanaam
Tamil remake of Vedam - no I hadn't heard of it either - which follows five different narratives until they merge into one terrifying climax. The trailer implies plenty of action, and lots of characters crying.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Roommate
Or Single White Female for the college crowd, only not as inventive or interesting. This house share horror someone topped the US charts for a week earlier in the year, but do not expect similar returns in to UK, it's actually been screened to critics hear and they're making their opinions heard.
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