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| Movie Review: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Alternate Title: Looking for Love in All the Wrong
Places
Story: If you are a Woody
Allen fan, like me, you will sit through this formulaic latest
film of his and wistfully remember the good old days when his films
were guaranteed to make you laugh, think and admire his genius and literary
plenteous. Sadly, this one does not cut the mustard. His signature themes are front and center. A disillusioned writer who
has lost his edge. A wife who seems more like a harpy than a supporter.
An older man who faces the grim reaper and decides to do something to
turn his life upside down and in the process creates a wake throughout
his family. A ditsy gold digger, a charlatan of a fortune teller and
a few other eccentric characters thrown in the mix. Are there laughs? Yes - but they are few and far between. Should you
see it? If you are a fan of his four decades of celluloid output and
that compels you to see it - you can wait for the small screen. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs1Iwp9_ePI Acting: Antonio Banderas as Greg is understated and
fine as the smarmy art dealer. Josh Brolin as Roy did
not mesh for me. Anthony Hopkins as Alfie was fine
but slipped into his Hannibal Lector character every now and then. Gemma
Jones as Helena was perfect. Freida Pinto
as Dia was innocuous. Lucy Punch as Charmaine was funny.
Naomi Watts as Sally did not pull it off. Pauline
Collins as Cristal was terrific and Zak Orth
is the know it all, narrator.
Trivia: Woody Allen was born December 1, 1935 in Brooklyn,
New York. As a young boy, he became intrigued with magic tricks and
playing the clarinet, two hobbies that he continues to do today.
Predilection: I am a Woody Allen fan and have seen
all of his films.
Critters: None
Food: Surprisingly little for a Woody Allen film.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of fooling around but none in front
of the camera.
Blatant Product Placement: Corona
Soundtrack: Woody-esque.
Opening Titles: Nearly all of his films start and
end with white-on-black credits, set in the Windsor typeface, set to
jazz music, without any scrolling.
Visual Art: Allen's characters always live a charmed
life in their hearth and home.
Theater Audience: NYC is Woody Allen's base. The
first showing on a Saturday was crowded.
Weather: Surprisingly lovely for London.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I drifted.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 5
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