Review of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) by Nick S — 10 Nov 2010

Woody Allen has always been an acquired taste, and while some might believe the quality of his work has diminished over the past decade, I think heâ(TM)s actually made some of his best films (Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona) during that span. This picture is more in line with the styles on display in two less successful recent efforts (Whatever Works and Scoop), but it marginally enjoyable nonetheless. That is to say, if you like the tone and feel of the typical Woody Allen comedy, youâ(TM)ll enjoy the breeziness and whimsical nature of this one. For me, his presence on screen is the missing element. I know heâ(TM)s getting up there in years, but You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger had the potential to produce more laughs with Allen playing the part that went to Josh Brolin. I like Brolin, in fact, heâ(TM)s slowly becoming one of my favorite actors, but he is terribly miscast here. His presence is a bit distracting, which is unfortunate because most of his scenes are played opposite the very appealing Freida Pinto, of Slumdog Millionaire fame. Sheâ(TM)s excellent, as is the remainder of the female cast.

Antonio Banderas is also good here, showing the sort of range I wasnâ(TM)t sure he had. Or maybe I just forgot, since he hasnâ(TM)t been busy lately. Maybe we need some more Zorro pictures? Actors aside, the story of a down-on-his-luck writer, who is in turn down on himself, is not fresh or new, but when you surround it with love triangles and misguided post mid-life crises, you have a fairly entertaining web of intertwining stories.

So where does it all lead? Well, it wouldnâ(TM)t be a Woody Allen movie without more than a few misunderstandings, and of course, an unexpected albeit realistic twist in the final act. It comes together in a way that is satisfying in spite of some of the open-endedness. But thatâ(TM)s life I guess⦠no one really knows whatâ(TM)s coming... or do they? The fake, yet oddly perceptive (at times) psychic in the story may lend towards thinking otherwise. Thatâ(TM)s one of the many messages you can take away from this, a marginally recommendable effort from one of the best filmmakers of all-time.