Cafe Society

Woody Allen's films can be mistaken as slight. They are not. Just as The Great Gatsby should not be judged by the number of pages, Allen's cinematic novellas should not be disdained as lacking the epic. He is a master of his own very particular craft.

Cafe Society is (another Allen characteristic) wistful and affectionate if still cynical. Allen scripts for Jesse Eisenberg exactly the sort of role he would have written for himself three decades ago. Eisenberg is very good. New York is at the heart of the film, or perhaps more accurately, New Yorkers are at the core. Los Angeles gets a mention and is beautifully shot (this is Allen's first venture into digital cinematography) but the characters get their full rounding when back in New York.

What Allen does, he does masterfully. This is a rather beautiful little film. 7.5/10. 

Advent 24

And so my friends we reach the end of our trail. I do not pretend that these have been the finest two dozen films ever made but they are twenty-four that are important to me. Nine have been comedies; four are epics (a designation I reserve for films over my arbitrary minimum of three hours); six are in black and white; two are musicals (if you count Mary Poppins); two are cartoons (again counting Mary Poppins); one is a documentary; two are sub-titled; three are children's films (Mary Poppins again again); nine are comedies; two are written and directed by Orson Welles which tells you what I think of him; None are by Martin Scorsese which is probably wrong but hey ho.

Toady we have the ninth of those comedies. For the very best of reasons it occupies the final page in our list. It is a fine film but above all else it is the film Sharon and I saw on our first date. This then is my Christmas present to my favourite human. Annie Hall.

12 Films At Christmas - 7 & 8

We delved into the Woody Allen box-set again a couple of nights ago. Most inappropriately Sharon and I have taken it in turns to be unwell since Christmas so we have watched a lot on the television whilst kept from our normally giddy social life. Those detecting a heavy dose of sarcasm in that last remark will not be wide of the mark.

The only problem (and for reasons I will go into it is probably not really a problem anyway) with watching a lot of Wooody Allen is that you can see some of the jokes coming. Not that I'm complaining - I have always liked Jewish masturbation jokes. In this film it comes (ooh err Mrs) early on - Woody's wife suggests that they cannot have children because he has 'ruined' himself - perhaps by excessive masturbation - 'Leave my hobbies alone' ,Woody snaps back

Hannah and Her Sisters isn't really a film with anywhere to go but it meanders beautifully and is graced by a performance from an absolute master of cinematic acting, Michael Caine. Less is so much more in his hands. As to the familiarity of Allen's themes and methods, well, when Wayne Rooney scores a goal one doesn't bemoan having seen him do it before. Woody Allen is a prolific goal scorer.

And next we have the absolute antidote to the complete guff that is Anonymous (see film number 1 in this thread). I have often opined on the role of the clever bastard in cultural delivery and now I give you Exhibit A - Tom Stoppard. What an absolute blinding screenplay he delivered for Shakespeare In Love. Where Anonymous pretends to learning, Shakespeare In Love wears genuine scholarship lightly. Where Anonymous insults great reputations, Shakespeare In Love gently burnishes them without being po-faced. And another thing - hiding behind the Oscar winning efforts of Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench there is a seriously good supporting turn from Ben Affleck. A cracking good film. In case you have missed the point - Anonymous is a steaming pile of manure.