You will meet a tall dark stranger. Directed by Woody Allen. 2010.
I know it's unfair, but I just can't help it: everytime I see a Woody Allen movie, I expect a masterpiece. Or, at least, a remarkable movie. I'm sure this is because most of Allen's films are, indeed, damn good movies. From his early comedies (Sleeper, Everything you always wanted to know about sex* but where afraid to ask) to his mature dramedies (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hanna and her sisters (if you ask me, not only his best movie, but one of the best films of all time)) his "Bergman" period (Another woman, Interiors, Crimes and misdemeanors) and his more recent films (Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Allen has proven to be a fine deconstructor of modern relationships, and an expert storyteller, always with wit and charm. As I was saying, from Woody I always expect a masterpiece. Maybe this is the reason why his most recent film, You will meet a tall dark stranger was a bit of a disappointment. But only a bit.
The movie starts with Helena (Gemma Jones) going to a fortune-teller (Pauline Collins) because she wants to see if her future is better than her present: her husband Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) has left her for a much younger (and sluttier) woman, named Charmaine (Lucy Punch). This fortune teller, Cristal, was recommended to Helena by her daughter, Sally (beautiful, Oscar-worthy Naomi Watts) who is experiencing troubles of her own: while trying to survive her dying marriage with the one-hit writer Roy (Josh Brolin) she is falling for her boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas).
Sally does not believe in Cristal, but she believes that her mother has to have hope, even if it's a lie. Because, Woody seems to ask, what is the importance of hope in a world where chaos reigns? The question is very powerful and, in many scenes, the movie does justice to it. It doesn't try to answer it (that would be a terrible mistake) but to go through its many variants. As a consequence of this, the movie feels kind of disconnected: basically, there are four stories: Helena, Alfie/Charmaine, Sally, Roy. Helena and Alfie/Charmaine are comedies; Sally and Roy are dramas. Since Melinda & Melinda, Allen has been a great drama director, and a so-so comedy director. This is no exception: while the Roy, and specially Sally, stories are very powerful, the comedy part feels old and unnatural. For example, watching Anthony Hopkins waiting for the Viagra to make effect may have been funny in the 90's, not now. On the other hand, the pathos in the drama part is very strong, one can feel the urgency, the need and the desperation of the characters. Much of the credit, of course, goes to the actors, specially Naomi Watts. But Woody also deserves recognition: he knows where to put the camera in order to highlight the actress's expressions. This being said, the drama moments in You will meet a tall dark stranger rank among the greatest Woody scenes, while the comedy parts fall flat. There are two movies here: a great drama, a poor comedy.
The movie starts with Helena (Gemma Jones) going to a fortune-teller (Pauline Collins) because she wants to see if her future is better than her present: her husband Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) has left her for a much younger (and sluttier) woman, named Charmaine (Lucy Punch). This fortune teller, Cristal, was recommended to Helena by her daughter, Sally (beautiful, Oscar-worthy Naomi Watts) who is experiencing troubles of her own: while trying to survive her dying marriage with the one-hit writer Roy (Josh Brolin) she is falling for her boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas).
Sally does not believe in Cristal, but she believes that her mother has to have hope, even if it's a lie. Because, Woody seems to ask, what is the importance of hope in a world where chaos reigns? The question is very powerful and, in many scenes, the movie does justice to it. It doesn't try to answer it (that would be a terrible mistake) but to go through its many variants. As a consequence of this, the movie feels kind of disconnected: basically, there are four stories: Helena, Alfie/Charmaine, Sally, Roy. Helena and Alfie/Charmaine are comedies; Sally and Roy are dramas. Since Melinda & Melinda, Allen has been a great drama director, and a so-so comedy director. This is no exception: while the Roy, and specially Sally, stories are very powerful, the comedy part feels old and unnatural. For example, watching Anthony Hopkins waiting for the Viagra to make effect may have been funny in the 90's, not now. On the other hand, the pathos in the drama part is very strong, one can feel the urgency, the need and the desperation of the characters. Much of the credit, of course, goes to the actors, specially Naomi Watts. But Woody also deserves recognition: he knows where to put the camera in order to highlight the actress's expressions. This being said, the drama moments in You will meet a tall dark stranger rank among the greatest Woody scenes, while the comedy parts fall flat. There are two movies here: a great drama, a poor comedy.
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