Review of September (1987) by Shawn W — 04 Jan 2010

Woody Allen has always been a film maker who, while still remembered as a comedic writer/director, every so often dabbled in the high dramatic, or in the case of September, the very melodramatic.

Set in a summer house, where ill Mia Farrow, who is in a relationship with struggling writer Sam Waterston, has to contend with the affections of Denholm Elliott, while dealing with her demanding and attention-seeking mother (Elaine Stritch), while Waterston gives his attention to Dianne Wiest.

This is all very Chekov with a touch of Ingmar Bergman, as thie predominantly six character cast dish out their neurosis and you just feel like shouting at the screen 'Cheer up!'.

The acting is exceptional, and you cannot take fault with these very rounded performances, but you somtimes feel as if Allen's dialogue is falsed and laboured, while the whole film has a lack of real human quality apart from remorse and anger. Farrow, who at the time was Allen's lady, is given the more emtionally challenging role, and having watched several of Allen's films with Farrow in them, she definitly is a strong andquit masterful actress, adapting to the many roles she plays with ease and comfort. Yet while she has the stonger role, she too has to deal with some very strange pieces of dialogue.

The use of one setting and six actors gives the whole film a more theatrical feel, and maybe this is really its natural home, because sitting through it, you find yourself wandering and having to listen to these characters wailing on about self pity and lost love, you really need them to crack at least one joke, to give you hope that after the film has finished, they won't throw themselves under a train.

Allen is an exceptional film mkaer, but when he is this earnest and serious, you just wonder how he ever got to make such wonderful comedies like Annie Hall.