Review of Café Society (2016) by Grant S — 18 Oct 2017
LA, 1930s. Phil Stern is a Hollywood mega-agent, making huge deals involving the cream of the celebrity world. His nephew, Bobby, travels to LA from New York to meet Phil in the hope of getting a job. After getting a bit of a run-around from Phil, Bobby eventually works for him. He also starts a relationship with Veronica, Phil's secretary. Unfortunately her heart belongs to someone else...Phil.
Quite weak, and one of Woody Allen's worst movies (To Rome With Love is still THE worst Allen movie, however). Lifeless plot that just seems to meander in aimless, predictable fashion. Hardly any of the trademark Woody Allen humour.
Even worse are the lead performances. We know by now that Kristen Stewart can't act and here she doesn't prove us wrong. However, she is not the worst of it. Jesse Eisenberg tries to channel a young Woody Allen and misses by a mile. Allen's performances in the 70s were charming in their neuroticism, glamourlessness and nerdiness. Eisenberg's performance has no charm, just dullness and irritation.
(The supporting cast aren't bad though, with Steve Carell and Jeannie Berlin the picks of the bunch.).
The narration of Woody Allen doesn't help either. His voice sounds tired, almost like he didn't want to be there. Somebody needs to tell him that he is not obliged to narrate his own movies...
This review of Café Society (2016) was written by Grant S on 18 Oct 2017.
Café Society has generally received positive reviews.
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