Date: 2016
Director: Woody Allen
Actors/Characters: Steve Carell/ Phil Stern, Jesse Eisenberg/ Bobby, Kristen Stewart/ Vonnie, Blake Lively/ Veronica
Summary: In the 1930s, a Bronx native moves to Hollywood and falls in love with a young woman who is seeing a married man.
Review
Café Society is the first Woody Allen film I have ever watched and if I am totally honest it wasn't as good as I had anticipated. I could definitely feel a strong romanticism within Allen's direction and that was something I could really appreciate however I felt what he gained with visuals and sound he lacked with characters and plot.
The entire aesthetic of the film was excellent I loved the backdrop of the film. The 1930s Hollywood golden era setting made for luxurious sets, costumes and props and this indulgent surrounding was something so foreign to modern society and I loved seeing it come to life on screen. Allen captured the era's essence brilliantly and from the film's exposition I was completely thrown into the world of the characters.
The representation of life in Hollywood was also something I enjoyed about the film. I haven't seen many films that depict the dog-eat-dog world that is Hollywood to the extent that Café Society did. The easter eggs that Allen placed within the film when characters would casually mention different famous actors from the era was really nice to watch and it added a light heartedness to the film. Furthermore this film also seemed to mock the Hollywood system as Allen knitted humour throughout.
I was impressed with the gorgeous soundtrack Allen used. Smooth jazz and classic 30s music was just woven throughout the soundscape and added a romantic and smooth feel to the whole film which I really enjoyed. This effect was furthered in the camera work and cinematography, all the camera movements were smooth and flowing. Sideways tracking shots were frequently used to track across sets and rooms which I really enjoyed as it was reminiscent of studio filming for television shows.
Moving on to the issues I had with the film- the characters. I did not relate to or sympathise with many of the characters particularly the protagonists. For me characters and plot are the two driving forces behind a film without them I do not enjoy whatever I am watching. I did not like Vonnie or Bobby as people, both characters were self-centered and extremely flawed. Moreover their relationship ( and one of the central plot points of the narrative ) seemed disingenuous and forced to me so that made me like them even less. Therefore even though I was impressed with Eisenberg's performance of Bobby I found myself detached from his character and uninvolved in the direction of the story due to a lack of connection with the protagonists. I am not a fan of Kristen Stewart's acting style in general as it is unemotional and insincere and she was no different in this film for me. I just couldn't relate/ connect to Vonnie as a character perhaps because of Stewart's acting style it just doesn't work for me.
I did, however, enjoy Carell's performance, this role was much different to the others I have seen him play and I was shocked at how believable and impressive he was in this part. He was still funny as you would expect however he brought great emotion and truth the character and I really enjoyed his character arc and the scenes he was in.
Comments