I guess it would be evitable that most people would draw comparisons with this movie and Fellini's "La Dolce Vita". Woody Allen's "Celebrity" is basically a harsh criticism on modern day society, I say it had it coming! Allen is trying to show us the we (the American public) like to accept odd things, which is perfectly true about us (and to be fair, so people don't think I'm being a snob, I freely throw myself into the ring also). As in the movie, when people do terrible things, they are turned into "celebrities"! Why do we do this? This is what's at the core of Allen's film. Why are we so quick to give a basketball player 20 million dollars, but, shy away from giving that same amount of money to some sort of medical research? Why has politics turned into some sorta daytime soap opera? These are things "Celebrity" trys to answer. The only problem I have with the movie is, it's not "mean" enough. It's not "tough" enough! The movie needed more bite to it. I think perhaps one of the reasons many people hated this movie is because Allen is trying to tell us, we're stupid. I know not one person who likes to hear someone bad mouth them. And the same goes with this movie. If it's telling us we do moronic things, some people could get a bit mad. Now, do start to think that's why I feel everyone hates this movie. The other reason is because Woody Allen wrote and directed it. I often wonder if Allen would keep his name away from his movies if people would go see them. It's as if once people find out Woody Allen made the film people are turned off. Kenneth Branagh and Judy Davis star as a divorced married couple, Lee and Robin Simon. Lee (Branagh) is a second rate journalist who is trying to sell a screenplay. Robin (Davis) is trying to get her life back on track and put Lee behind her. After Lee interviews or has run in's with people like famous actress Nicole Oliver (Melanie Griffith), and a supermodel (Charlize Theron) Lee starts to think his life is meaningless. And who are we to disagree. I don't want to give away all of the plot here, but, Branagh by the end of the movie is where Robin started and Robin is where Lee dreams of being, happy! The acting by Famke Janssen and Winona Ryder is delightful to watch, especially Ryder. I thought Bebe Neuwirth was very funny as a hooker who trys to teach Robin a few "tricks". And Joe Mantegna was pretty good as well, only problem is he wasn't given enough screentime. I absolutelly hated, Leonardo DiCapro! He just cannot act, I'm sorry all you Leo fans. All he does in his scene is scream, while yes, I'll give him credit, he has a very loud voice, that doesn't make up for his zombie look through his part. Wonderful black & white photography by Sven Nykvist, truly one of the highpoints of the film. And Allen has written a very sharp and witty script that is just as great as his directing. This is not Allen's best, but it's not his worst. I see it has one of the best films of 1998. *** out of ****
Review of Celebrity
