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Starring Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Winona Ryder, Charlize Theron, Joe Montegna, Leonardo
DiCaprio, Melanie Griffith, Gretchen Mol, Bebe Neuwirth, Hank Azaria, Famke Janssen. Directed
by Woody Allen. Black and white cinematography by Sven Nykvist.
Lee (Branagh) is a writer who covers celebrities - music, movies and fashion. He has written two books which were not well received or read. So he has decided to write a bank heist screenplay, figuring its a faster way of becoming famous, since people are more interested in watching movies than in reading books. He has recently left his wife of 16 years, Robin (Davis), because he was turning 40 and felt he had missed out on life's excitement. He interacts with a curvy movie star (Griffith) in the Lewinsky way, attracts a drop-dead gorgeous super-model (Theron) with his 1967 Aston Martin, is drawn to a young waitress working to become an actress (Ryder), and develops a relationship with his book editor (Janssen). He also hooks up with a hotel-trashing, girlfriend-bashing spoiled brat of an actor (DiCaprio), who introduces him to a taste of hedonism, and a $6000 gambling debt. Still not over Lee, Robin meets a sympathetic film producer (Montegna) who takes her from her job as English teacher, and introduces her to the world of TV and film. She eventually dons a blond wig and hosts a society/celebrity interview/gossip show. She admits she's become the thing she used to hate, but that ironically she's never been happier. Lee chases fame and celebrity, but is unable to attain it, while Robin has only contempt for it, and it lands in her lap. With the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, and his lure on the female teenage audience, the film is destined to be one of Woody's most financially successful. But that audience may be disappointed - Leo is only on screen for under 15 minutes. Actually most of the actors, save Branagh and Davis, appear for short periods of time. The film is done in the style of Robert Altman, films such as Nashville and Short Cuts, where lots of characters come and go in a multi-layered story, with overlapping dialogue. Except it's not as good. Clocking in at just under 2 hours, the film does drag in spots - even some of the good parts, such as Lee's revealing flashback to his high school reunion, and his sojourn around town with Theron. The plot is pretty thin, but that is not really a bad thing. Some of the best parts of the film occur during the tacked on scenes. For example, Davis seeks advice from an experienced hooker (Neuwirth) on the fine art of oral pleasuring, and Neuwirth chokes on her teaching device. DiCaprio's turn as the spoiled and self-absorbed movie star brings considerable energy and fun to the movie. Using his character more in the film would have done wonders. While Woody does not appear in the film - I guess he's realized its getting harder and harder to sell a man of his age attracting gorgeous women - Branagh does a dead-on impersonation of Woody. Complete with nervous ticks, stuttering and uttering lines you can here Woody saying, such as "That's CRAZY" and "You deserve better than me". One begins to appreciate Woody's acting ability and charm, because Branagh's schtick becomes a bit irritating after a while. Davis is becoming a regular and she has begun to play the female equivalent to Woody - a neurotic bundle of nerves filled with self doubt. Neuwirth is hilarious in her small role as the experienced sex-provider, casting against type as an opposite to her Lilith ice-queen role on Cheers. Theron "fills" the role of gorgeous model expertly, complete with vaccuous self-absorption. Ryder is excellent as the selfish, driven actress who refuses to be confined to one man. But as mentioned before, DiCaprio is sensational and easily the best feature of the movie - he continues to display considerable talent. Perhaps it's time for Woody to venture out of New York into the big old world, and create a story that is not a variation of the same thing he's done in most of his movies since Annie Hall. Not that those variations haven't been mostly good. I'm a Woody fan, and have liked almost all of his films. But perhaps he can use his talents in different stories in different locations. Celebrity is acceptable, but nowhere near vintage Woody Allen.  
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