Café Society

I often shook my head because the script was deeply submerged in nostalgia and was constantly throwing in old Hollywood names just to show how great Phil is. But when it decides to tell the story we came for, Café Society becomes a smooth and nervous retro with a sweetly sounding string of longing. 70% and rounding up precisely for that infallible final note. (21/05/2018)

51st KVIFF – Allen has made a recycled, safe comedy snack. Eisenberg plays a confident and absent-minded young man. Steward city is a mess, so there’s balance in the universe and everything is where it should be. The characters aren’t real people, but one-dimensional figures on the chessboard of Woody’s humour, and everything just fizzles out. (10/07/2016)

Woody Allen seems a bit worn out in this film. Sure, it's very well shot, the dialogues occasionally make sense and are even interesting, if not entertaining, but overall, I kind of felt like it was about nothing in particular. I couldn't really connect with the characters, and for example, the second Veronica seemed unnecessary and self-serving, although, of course, she has a certain purpose. (23/10/2016)

The enchanting atmosphere of the Golden Age of Hollywood era and the playing out of a love story promises more than what the movie can deliver in its second half: a clichéd love tangle and the unnecessary secondary storyline with a gangster brother. Jesse Eisenberg and Steve Carell are great, while Kristen Stewart doesn’t seem the right choice for her role. Blake Lively would deserve more space, though the development of her character would probably bring more clichés to the film. The movie feels longer than it actually is. A tired Woody. Two and a half stars. (23/09/2016)

Last time, I was quite enthusiastic about Magic in the Moonlight, but Café Society is even better. I haven't experienced this much authentic happiness from interwar Hollywood in a long time. There are plenty of excellent details, winking, and playing with names and projects, as well as the classic relationship analysis. It's not necessary to enjoy a romance that isn't quite tip-top, but if you appreciate art deco and a zillion references to all those names like Gloria Swanson, Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, or Jean Harlow, you've come to the right place. The costumes, the sets, and the atmosphere are all top-notch, and only after all this did I realize that the make-up is not period-based, but fortunately, that doesn't ruin the whole (which is an interesting paradox). (27/09/2016)