Retro Film Review: Celebrity (1998)

(source:tmdb.org)

In late 1990s Woody Allen desperately tried to make each of his new films different from the others. His favourite method was use of simple "gimmicks" - Greek chorus in Might Aphrodite, singing protagonists in Everyone Says I Love You or adult content in Deconstructing Harry. In the case of his 1998 comedy Celebrity the "gimmick" was the casting of Kenneth Branagh as his
alter ego.

Branagh in this film plays Lee Stone, would-be-novelist and screenwriter who desperately tries to pitch his next film script by hanging with New York celebrities. Lee's personal life is a mess – he divorced Robin (played by Judy Davis), his wife of sixteen years, in order to pursue liaisons with much younger women. In the meantime, Robin, who had recovered from nervous breakdown, decides to leave her job of English teacher and starts working on the tabloid TV show produced by her new boyfriend Harry Giardella (played by Joe Mantegna).

All those accustomed to see Woody Allen starring in his films are going to be impressed with the way Branagh perfectly covered Allen's accent and mannerisms. This performance is not just effective, but also very entertaining. Other actors, who appear in cameo roles, don't have to work that hard - Melanie Griffith and Leonardo Di Caprio in many ways play the fictional variations of themselves. Judy Davis is, on the other hand, is more impressive as a woman who tries to rebuild her life.

However, great acting aside, Celebrity is a film that leaves much to be desired. The plot is weak and among many vignettes some work and some simply don't. Allen's observations about the nature of celebrity in modern society are mixed with crude and not that effective humour. The ending is both disappointing and quite fitting for this film - the audience is going to be worried about the fate of its author.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on August 14th 2004)

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