Review of Café Society (2016) by Eric B — 20 Dec 2016

As with most of Woody Allen recent films with few exceptions, Blue Jasmine and Midnight in Paris come to mind, a lot of his films seem to be little floating doodles of ideas and concepts that just float around the cities they happen to be in and create a certain dreamy quality while only vaguely touching on subjects he had expanded on much more succintly and powefully elsewhere.

Cafe Society alas just happens to be another one of those films with actors who do ok in the jazz piece he has created here, focusing on a love triangle of sorts involving a wannabe writer in Jesse Eisenberg, the talent agent uncle with Steve Carrell and the neophyte secretary brought out by the dame dre4am of fame in Kiersten Stewart.

The idea is ok although been done countless times before and is a wannabe commentary or at least observation of the social scene primarily in LA but also for a time back in NYC post break up. The truie eheroes of the piece is the appearance of Blake Lively who is having a solid year with both this film and the Shallows, adding a bit of steam to the proceedings with her characters relationship with Jesse, and of course the music/cinematography combo that a lot of Allen's films have been known for.

Far from a flop but defintely an average by the numbers film that doesn't strike far from his comfort zone. Here's hoping something cranks it up a notch for him soon.