A NEW COMEDY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET FAMOUS… OR STAY FAMOUS.
After separating, travel journalist Lee Simon (Kenneth Branagh) and his wife Robin (Judy Davis) enter the singles scene, but Lee in particular learns the pitfalls of trying to find happiness. Director Woody Allen satirizes all the absurd aspects of fame, but offers nothing that he hasn’t explored earlier (which is particularly true of the two leads’ relationships), although fans will appreciate the dialogue and a few amusing sequences. Branagh’s role is the kind of person who depends on the kindness of unstable stars, but he’s basically playing Allen… which is strange to behold.
1998-U.S. 114 min. B/W. Written and directed by Woody Allen. Cinematography: Sven Nykvist. Cast: Kenneth Branagh (Lee Simon), Judy Davis (Robin Simon), Joe Mantegna (Tony Gardella), Leonardo DiCaprio, Winona Ryder, Charlize Theron… Hank Azaria, Melanie Griffith, Famke Janssen, Andre Gregory, Dylan Baker, Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Debra Messing, Jeffrey Wright, J.K. Simmons. Cameo: Donald Trump.
Trivia:Â Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore were allegedly considered for parts.
Quote: “I can’t have sex with you! My body belongs to my husband and there is no way that I could betray him in that way. But what I do from the neck up is a different story.” (Griffith)
