CAFE SOCIETY (2016)

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Steve Carell, Parker Posey, Corey Stoll, Ken Stott
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Rating: PG (Some Sexual References)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 9 September 2016

Synopsis: New York in the 1930s. As he has more and more trouble putting up with his bickering parents, his gangster brother and the family jewelry store, Bobby Dorfman feels like he needs a change of scenery! So he decides to go and try his luck in Hollywood where his high-powered agent uncle Phil hires him as an errand boy. In Hollywood he soon falls in love but unfortunately the girl has a boyfriend. Bobby settles for friendship ? up until the day the girl knocks at his door, telling him her boyfriend just broke up with her. All of a sudden Bobby’s life takes a new turn, and a very romantic one at that.

Movie Review:

What is life? The profound question seems to take centrestage in every Woody Allen film. The 80 year old, whose career spans more than 60 years, is still actively making films that feature his characters talking – a lot. Set against different backdrops, the people in Allen’s films always have a reason to talk. These are characters which may remind you of real life friends or acquaintances. The common topic of interest? Life. The only differences are the circumstances these fictional protagonists are in, or the era the stories take place in.

In his latest romantic comedy drama (that’s three genres in one film, if you haven’t realised), Allen tells the story of a young man who moves from New Yorkto Los Angelesduring the 1930s. There, he falls in love with his talent agent uncle’s assistant. The problem is, she is having a an affair with his wedded uncle.

After playing Mark Zuckerberg in 2010’s The Social Network, it isn’t easy for Jesse Eisenberg to break out of his mould. Be it a talking bird in Rio(2011), a conman in Now You See Me (2013) or Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), viewers always see the 32 year old actor as a fast talking lad who, well, talks fast. In his second Woody Allen film after 2012’s To Rome With Love, Eisenberg takes on the role of the film’s protagonist – a Jewish boy dreaming of a better life in Hollywood. Even before watching his performance, you can imagine him chatting his way through the 96 minute movie, charming his fans while slightly irritating others.

Playing Eisenberg’s love interest is Kristen Stewart, whose screen presence is increasingly growing on us (not a challenge, considering how irksome her Bella Swan persona from The Twilight Saga film series is). The 26 year old actress plays a secretary who will change the lives of two men: one idealistic about the future that lies ahead (Eisenberg), and the other whose life spells S-U-C-C-E-S-S (Steve Carell, channeling his Michael Scott persona from TV’s The Office to good use).

The ensemble cast also includes the beautiful Blake Lively as Eisenberg’s eventual partner, the underrated Corey Stoll as a gangster and the over the top Parker Posey as a woman from Hollywood’s high society.

The film is a small and unassuming drama that charms with its seemingly mundane moments. Two people meet, connect, separate – not before their actions impact others around them. Allen provides the narration throughout, making sure that he maintains the movie’s tone constant. The result is undeniably Woody Allen – cynicism is evident in the dialogue, and there is a melancholic sense of longing.

While old timers will say that this isn’t Allen’s best work (he has won four Oscars: three for Best Orginal Screenplay – 1978’s Annie Hall, 1987’s Hannah and Her Sisters and 2011’s Midnight in Paris; and one for Best Director – Annie Hall), and that the good looking backdrop of glamourous cars and pretty Hollywood stars suggests a style over substance, you have to admit that it is still better than most of the CGIladen productions out there. When the film ends with the characters feeling distant from the loved ones beside them, you realise this is often what life feels like.  

Movie Rating:

(The film may be set against a glamourous backdrop of 1930s Hollywood, but Woody Allen knows what it takes to portray a universal sense of love and longing)   

Review by John Li