Café Society: Written and Directed by Woody Allen, Starring: Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart7/29/2016 Great films sometimes make you wonder why something feels the way it does? Why in this moment of watching a man confess his heart’s desire, a moment of solemn drama, am I laughing so hard I can’t contain myself? Why is it that every time I see two characters on screen together I gesticulate if almost on cue? Why can’t I stop gesticulating? I’m so happy. I want to cry. I’m so freaking happy. That is what happens when a film physically moves you and that’s in a literal sense. When a film in an almost unwanted but exciting bravado takes you and the things that create you and completely commands them, leading to a loss of all control. That is what the great filmmakers do. I haven’t truly considered Woody Allen as one of them always. I’m always garishly excited for one of his projects as it prompts a comfortable good time that is most likely going to be breezy, but his films (even the true masterpieces) take on a sense that maybe just maybe Allen is just a sort of well-versed point and shoot dramatist. I was horribly mistaken. Café Society is a film that seems to do all the wrong things but uses that to its advantage. It’s got blatant moments of narration, it’s got subplots that are almost useless, it flamboyant for the simply the sake of it, and yet it understands longing and uses all aspects of its being to thrust the feeling on us the audience and the feeling is mesmerizing. Woody has always been one for funny, yet emotionally dark fare, but Society isn’t actually pessimistic or cynical. It believes that no matter the mistakes people make, appreciation of what we still have and the times we share as humans make it all worth it. Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) arrives in L.A. to get a job from his uncle (Steve Carrel), a powerful agent. Bobby is shy and fidgety (perfect for Eisenberg’s fidgety nature so reviled in BvS) as we see him display in a hilarious early scene where he argues with a prostitute why she should not sleep with him. Soon, though he meets Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) and their story continues in a twisty and interesting way. The film feels like an old Austen romance in the emotions it harnesses of want and longing which could be Allen simply trying to create an old seeming movie. The cinematography and direction are certainly very old fashioned centric. The film is shot in intimate wides and close-ups that remind one of the old shooting styles that Hitchcock used almost making you imagine that the crystal clear colors and images would be what those crystal clear images of black and white would look like if they had been colorized. The film’s grandeur is unprecedented, and it only prompts the idea that most things in the characters lives are ok bringing more attention to the central romance. Most importantly though it seems as if Allen has mastered this wonderful, if simple, style. The way he utilizes it brings less attention to the dialogue and more to the almost sensuous feelings of the set design leading to the film being both intellectually and visually stimulating. As suggested the performances here occupy the same quality as in most of Allen’s films which is to say that they seem authentic and comfortable. Carrel lends a silly edge to his character as if he’s still playing a character in the vain of Adam Mckay, but it works in a hilarious way. Blake Lively is also given more movie star material as she plays probably the kindest person you can think of while keeping it from becoming boring. But as you’ve heard Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg reveal themselves as the new Woody Allen crew in a big way. Hopefully, he brings the two together again as they really do bring the best out of each other. The connected chemistry of their acting styles being benefited by each other and the way that both characters make each other better people to the point of doing anything for each other compliment each other to make the film even more emotional. Café Society is a film that made me feel love. It made me feel release, and took me to a place that while sad, made me happier then I’ve been at almost any film this year. Woody Allen, the creator of calmer classics of the relationship game, physically moved me. The patrons behind me in the theater must have been annoyed by my swinging arms. Café Society gets a 10 out of 10.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |