Celebrity (1998)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A funny look at people who will do anything to get famous... or stay famous.

Plot:

The fortunes of a husband and wife differ drastically after they divorce.

Plot Keywords:

Celebrity | Journalist | TV Producer | Actress | Ensemble Film

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Greg Mottola	...	Director
Jeff Mazzola	...	Assistant Director
Dick Mingalone	...	Camera Operator
Vladimir Bibic	...	Director of Photography
Melanie Griffith	...	Nicole Oliver
Francisco Quidjada	...	Erno Delucca
Aleksa Palladino	...	Production Assistant
Dan Moran	...	Jackhammer Operator
Peter Castellotti	...	Sound Recordist (as Pete Castellotti)
A. Lee Morris	...	Second Assistant Cameraperson
Douglas McGrath	...	Bill Gaines
Kenneth Branagh	...	Lee Simon
Maurice Sonnenberg	...	Dalton Freed
Winona Ryder	...	Nola
Craig Ulmschneider	...	Daniel - Production Assistant

Also Known As:

Woody Allen Fall Project 1997 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sex and some drug use.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Netherlands:12 | Brazil:18 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Barbetta Restaurant - 321 W. 46th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Sweetland Films

Trivia:

Only Kenneth Branagh and 'Judy Davis' were privy to the complete script.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Frederique Van Der Wal turns around in the first bar scene, the wireless microphone transmitter around her waist is in view.

Quotes:

Waiting Room Nurse: I'm sorry, the doctor just doesn't do penis enlargements. We don't have the space.
Waiting Room Patient: We're talking about 3 inches here!

Movie Connections:

References Duel in the Sun (1946)

Soundtrack:

Cocktails for Two

Decent Allen film not his best, but still worth a look

Judged against other movies, Celebrity rates higher than it does when judged against Woody Allen movies. In other words, the director's consistent pace and huge body of work virtually begs for critics to keep ranking each of Allen's films against past efforts and so on. Celebrity is not as good as Deconstructing Harry or Everyone Says I Love You (to cite just two of Allen's recent pictures), but it still bears the hallmarks of Allen's success: great ensemble work, witty and intelligent writing, amusing set-pieces, and excellent photography. Kenneth Branagh fills in as the Woody character, and channels Allen's vocal tics and mannerisms to the point of perfection or distraction, depending on one's point of view. Judy Davis, a welcome sight in any movie, captures Branagh's ex-wife perfectly. The remainder of the cast aids in Allen's dissection of modern media celebrity, and does what it can with this good, but not great, material.