Who's
In It: Kenneth Branagh, Melanie Griffith, Joe Mantegna, Donald Trump, Wynona
Ryder, Charlize Theron, Famke Jannsen, Leonardo DiCaprio Who Directed It:
Woody Allen
If
anyone in the film industry knows about being a celebrity, it's Woody Allen. In
his long, illustrious career, Allen has been cherished as a filmmaker and loathed
as a human being. In his new film, Woody stays behind the camera, serving as writer
and director, to give us a glimpse into a turbulent lifestyle, while serving up
his trademark stories about dysfunctional relationships.
Kenneth
Branagh (Henry V, Dead Again) plays a writer who is frantically searching for
his purpose in life. As usual in Allen's films, Celebrity boasts an all-star cast
featuring Melanie Griffith, Joe Mantegna, Donald Trump, Wynona Ryder, Charlize
Theron, Famke Jannsen and Leonardo DiCaprio, who is only on-screen for about ten
minutes. But it's a good ten minutes. Celebrity does have great moments, but is
lacking the consistent humor and flow that made some of his earlier films, Annie
Hall and Bullets Over Broadway, so memorable. It also lacks the depth of Crimes
and Misdemeanors, which is his best film. It also didn't help that BranaghÕs
performance it too close to Woody's own personae.
Still,
Celebrity is anything but a dud. It's been a bad year for comedies and this offering
is certainly up there with the best. Allen still knows how to deliver fantastic
dialogue and coax great performances from a stellar cast. This is another good
film on a great resume.
