Review of Stardust Memories (1980) by Mr. J — 22 Jul 2008
Between this and "Crimes And Misdemeanors" but, ultimately I come back to this one all of the time.
Again, I saw this one first and it has resonated with me for almost thirty years.
Yes, Allen uses as a basis Fellini's "8 1/2" (or rips it off depending on your point of view), for this black and white (Gordon Willis, where art thou?) trip through a directors mind at a film festival tribute at a resort filled with sychophantic, grasping needy friends, fans and stalkers. But Woody Allen transcends the source material to make a film that is almost "Husbands And Wives" uncomfortable in it's intimate look at the director's issues.
I love this as much for Charlotte Rampling's work as for the film itself. But the way Allen frames her, and the way he shoots her nervous breakdown scene, shows that the director himself may have felt the same way.
The first movie I ever took seriously.
This review of Stardust Memories (1980) was written by Mr. J on 22 Jul 2008.
Stardust Memories has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
