CELEBRITY (1998)
A Film Review
Copyright Dragan Antulov 2004
In late 1990s Woody Allen desperately tried to make each of his new
films different from the others. His favourite method was use of
simple "gimmicks" - Greek chorus in MIGHTY APHRODITE, singing
protagonists in EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU or adult content in
DECONSTRUCTING HARRY. In the case of his 1998 comedy
CELEBRITY the "gimmick" was the casting of Kenneth Branagh as his
alter ego.
Branagh in this film plays Lee Stone, would-be-novelist and
screenwriter who desperately tries to pitch his next movie script by
hanging with New York celebrities. Lee's personal life is a mess - he
divorced Robin (played by Judy Davis), his wife of sixteen years, in
order to pursue liaisons with much younger women. In the
meantime, Robin, who had recovered from nervous breakdown,
decides to leave her job of English teacher and starts working on the
tabloid TV show produced by her new boyfriend Harry Giardella
(played by Joe Mantegna).
All those accustomed to see Woody Allen starring in his movies are
going to be impressed with the way Branagh perfectly covered
Allen's accent and mannerisms. This performance is not just effective,
but also very entertaining. Other actors, who appear in cameo roles,
don't have to work that hard - Melanie Griffith and Leonardo Di
Caprio in many ways play the fictional variations of themselves. Judy
Davis is, on the other hand, is more impressive as a woman who tries
to rebuild her life.
However, great acting aside, CELEBRITY is a film that leaves much
to be desired. The plot is weak and among many vignettes some
work and some simply don't. Allen's observations about the nature of
celebrity in modern society are mixed with crude and not that
effective humour. The ending is both disappointing and quite fitting
for this film - the audience is going to be worried about the fate of its
author.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
Review written on August 13th 2004
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax
http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in
Croatian
http://www.ofcs.org - Online Film Critics Society
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