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Stardust Memories

Stardust Memories

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favorite Woody Allen movies
Review: This movie received a lot of undue criticism, probably due to the fact that the media is portrayed in an unkind light. I noticed that one reviewer referred to this movie as self-indulgent, which is one of the characteristics of Woody Allen that I find so endearing. He is a witty, neurotic little man who through seemingly childish satire ends up making very accurate statements about society and life in general. Although I am by no means a celebrity, I was able to sympathize with the main character, particularly in the area of his relationships. This movie really struck some tender chords and made me laugh at the same time. The tragic romance in the movie really piqued my interest and was a very realistic element. This is a movie that I could never get tired of watching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Allen's Best Film By Far
Review: Actually, the majority of critics will have you believe that this is Allen's worst film by far (read Pauline Kael's review for a good laugh, as Allen gets her so worked up she even starts criticizing the title), but that's because he makes them look like half-wits throughout the entire movie. So what do you expect them to say? The editing is wonderful, as flashbacks and imaginary sequences merge together seamlessly, one of the best being the scene in the apartment with Rampling and Django Reinhardt's "I'll See You In My Dreams". With Reinhardt, Chick Webb, and Louis Armstrong, this film also has the best soundtrack of any of Allen's films, and it's a shame it's not available on disc because some of the songs are obscure and difficult to track down except on pricy imports. As always, the writing is superb and shows Allen at his most cynical and philosophical. Another big plus is the casting. With the exception of Tony Roberts and some usual minor characters, the cast is fresh and engrossing, especially Charlotte Rampling and the French actress whose name I can't recall. Comparisons with 8 1/2 are usually used, not as praise, but in order to paint the work as derivative. If anything, it's more like Preston Sturges' SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS. Hopefully this title will be letterboxed on DVD at some point, because some of Gordon Willis' shots are outstanding and poorly cropped on the VHS pan-and-scan version. But, considering its critical reception, don't hold your breath.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Unrecognised classic
Review: An unrecongised classic. Delicate, shot in black and white, highly intricate and complex script, and soft humour throughout. A marvel.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Apparently this flick was trashed when it was released (extreme) and is adored now (also extreme). I do not understand movies and know nothing about foreign ones, so I can neither recognize nor comment on Woody Allen's influences. The less for me. However, I thought this movie was shallow and superficial. I thought it was well and interestingly directed, had a few good chuckles in it (but was hardly a laugh riot), had some interesting scenes (not many), but if this is the way Allen sees his fans (a lot of grinning idiots, devoted slobbering dogs, virtual freaks), the less for him. I am a fan of Allen and I like to think well of my heroes, not as demeaning, blase gods. And I prefer movies in color. And just for the record, I've had it to the teeth with Allen's private life, that's just what it is, a PRIVATE life. I know people who based on his life dislike his movies and have never even seen any! (And on the subject of decency, if I'd been Janet Jackson, I'd have shown them the other one, but I would NOT have apologized!) I did not think this movie was funny enough to watch again nor complex and subtle enough (like his more serious movies) to study. But (sigh) maybe I'll watch it again in 6 months and love it. I did that to "Manhattan Murder Mystery."

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Apparently this flick was trashed when it was released (extreme) and is adored now (also extreme). I do not understand movies and know nothing about foreign ones, so I can neither recognize nor comment on Woody Allen's influences. The less for me. However, I thought this movie was shallow and superficial. I thought it was well and interestingly directed, had a few good chuckles in it (but was hardly a laugh riot), had some interesting scenes (not many), but if this is the way Allen sees his fans (a lot of grinning idiots, devoted slobbering dogs, virtual freaks), the less for him. I am a fan of Allen and I like to think well of my heroes, not as demeaning, blase gods. And I prefer movies in color. And just for the record, I've had it to the teeth with Allen's private life, that's just what it is, a PRIVATE life. I know people who based on his life dislike his movies and have never even seen any! (And on the subject of decency, if I'd been Janet Jackson, I'd have shown them the other one, but I would NOT have apologized!) I did not think this movie was funny enough to watch again nor complex and subtle enough (like his more serious movies) to study. But (sigh) maybe I'll watch it again in 6 months and love it. I did that to "Manhattan Murder Mystery."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Woody's Best Film.
Review: As a huge Allen fan I warmly recommend this movie. It's quirky, neurotic, romantic, and generally all of the things that make us love Woody so much in the first place. I know that Ebert trashed the film by saying that it was merely a spin-off of 8 1/2 but I disagree. This movie cannot be dismissed simply by saying its derivative and I think, although it may be blasphemy to say so, that it's a better work than the one by Fellini. Furthermore, Charlotte Rampling is absolutely wonderful in it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Woody's Best Film.
Review: As a huge Allen fan I warmly recommend this movie. It's quirky, neurotic, romantic, and generally all of the things that make us love Woody so much in the first place. I know that Ebert trashed the film by saying that it was merely a spin-off of 8 1/2 but I disagree. This movie cannot be dismissed simply by saying its derivative and I think, although it may be blasphemy to say so, that it's a better work than the one by Fellini. Furthermore, Charlotte Rampling is absolutely wonderful in it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: Couldn't agree more- this is one of his best. Personally I think it was originally panned because it was sort of proactively mocking its critics, due to the seemingly autobiographical slant of it. Woody Allen always insists his films are not autobiographical, though he does write what he knows. Here's a somewhat slow, very European movie from an American master of comedy, about a director known for his comedies, who's being panned because his latest movies are dark and European and not funny. It's as if Allen were making a movie about what was going to happen when said movie was released, which I don't think is intentional. But taken as intentional it would really **** off a pompous critic.

It's really brilliant, and just beautiful to watch being in Black and White. And- it is funny. Allen says in an interview with Stig Bjorkman that Stardust Memories is the closest he's ever come to exactly what he wanted to accomplish.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of his best
Review: Definitely one of his best. Personally I think it was originally panned because it was sort of proactively mocking its critics, due to the seemingly autobiographical slant of it. Woody Allen always insists his films are not autobiographical, though he does write what he knows. Here's a somewhat slow, very European movie from an American master of comedy, about a director known for his comedies, who's being panned because his latest movies are dark and European and not funny. It's as if Allen were making a movie about what was going to happen when said movie was released, which I don't think is intentional. But taken as intentional it would really **** off a pompous critic.

It's really brilliant, and just beautiful to watch being in Black and White. And- it is funny. Allen says in an interview with Stig Bjorkman that Stardust Memories is the closest he's ever come to exactly what he wanted to accomplish.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply one of the best films ever made. Woody Allen's best!
Review: From the opening metaphorical scene of Allen stuck in a wagon a watching another one carrying life passing him by, Allen offers us a gem a la Fellini. The magic however, is that Allen surpasses the Italian master at his own art using the master's tools. The monologue scene in Allen's appartment with Charlotte Rampling with Louis Armstrong's music soothing the background is monumental by its humility and sensibility. END


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