Customer Reviews

Celebrity

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Why do people keep expecting everything from Woody Allen to be "funny"? Like "Stardust Memories" or any number of his other movies, I would consider "Celebrity" more of a drama than a comedy. Yes, there are funny scenes, but there's more to it, I think. I didn't love the movie on first viewing, but I enjoy it more each time I see it. If you give it a chance and listen to what the director tells Melanie Griffith at the beginning about the "human condition", and how that relates to Kenneth Branagh (who I did NOT find annoying) at the end; and look deeper than Leonardo DiCaprio's small part, I think you'll find more than just jokes (or the absence thereof).

Kenneth Branagh is delightful in this film. Forget about Woody Allen for a moment and appreciate the performance (ask yourself if anyone could have done it better). I couldn't stop laughing! Every line of dialogue in this film is worth catching, Judy Davis is fantastic, and it's just a genuinely entertaining movie. The one star and two star ratings are ridiculous. Typical of arm-chair critics to blast a film when it doesn't fit the expected Allen mold. This is an excellent film, great dialogue, enjoyable plot.

While the movie itself was pretty uneventful and seemed to drag, the absolute magnificence of Kenneth Branagh's performance made it worth watching. I think what a couple of previous reviewers may have missed is that the male lead was written by Woody for Woody. He, thankfully, had the wisdom to know he would not be able to believably play that role--with Charlize and Winona falling all over him. So, he got someone else to play him for him. Kenneth does a remarkable Woody Allen. The argument in the park is a prime example. So to the reviewer who said that leading men in Woody Allen films should stop trying to be Woody, please realize that sometimes that is the whole intent, and realizing that can make the whole film richer.

The expectations are higher when an artist like Woody Allen makes a movie. If some no-talent little jerk with dirty hair made this, you'd all be falling over each other to meet the next Great Young Director.

As it is, I will admit its not Woody's greatest effort, but it certainly is not as bad as most of you are making it out to be.

And I agree that Leonardo is great and he stands out - his scene is classic Woody. Winona Ryder and Famke Janssen and Charlize are gorgeous and its all good, as far as I am concerned.

Even if this movie deserves 4-5 stars (lots of jokes, funny situations, and despite what other comments says, really good acting) I can only give it two because of DVD edition. No alternative language, no subtitles, no bonus material, nothing. You'd get the same on TV. What's the point ? Is it soooo expensive to try to get some quality ? Hello Miramax, is anybody alive ?

When I first saw CELEBRITY, I hated it just as much as most of my fellow reviewers. But, I'm a die hard Allen fan, so I saw it again. The film seemed different the second time, the message seemed more defined, but it wasn't like it had changed since the last time. The difference, I knew when it was going to end. The first time it seems to drag on and on . . and on. But the second time round, you are free to listen and absorb everything a lot easier. This is a great movie, with an excelent cast and some hilarious moments.

Celebrity is a great movie. It isn't quite as brilliant as Deconstructing Harry, but few movies are. Woody Allen is one of the best filmmakers living today. I will not say anything about the plot because it's best for the viewer to descover it for themselves. I will say that Rider and DeCaprio are great in it.

This movie does go on for abit long but it takes an interesting look at the downfalls of fame and fortune. The highlight of this movie is Leonardo DiCaprio's wondeful performance as a sex, and drug crazed movie star. It is unfair if not wrong to say that he is playing himself though. Anybody who has said that and does not even know what they are talking should think twice. It is very unfair to assume that. The acting is great by everyone who is in this movie. If you are a fan of the cinema and want to see an interesting film than I suggest this.

"Celebrity" is one of Woody's best, and most under appreciated and also unjustly attacked films. The production is first rate, the characters diverse, and the acting -- from Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Melanie Griffith, Joe Mantegna -- as good as in any Allen film. It is a wonderful and highly observant film, that seems to offend many for reasons that no one seems able to really express, other than by resorting to vituperative adjectives and hand wringing.

As far as I can tell, it offends some people because it is thought to be "more of the same" late "Manhattan" period Allen ensemble work -- pity Mozart if he had been cranking out symphonies for these complainers; it is thought to be annoying because Kenneth Branagh does what is, really, a wonderful Allen impression, Woody being too old by the time was made to play the lead in the story; because the characters are more fully developed, and so perhaps more subtle and less immediately amusing, versions of the classic Allen character types that, by the time the film was made, had become well known to audiences impatient for novelty and new amusements from Allen; because, perhaps, many solid middle American types have such an instinctive and deep seated hatred for the particular New York types that populate Allen films that this film evidently pushed the buttons of those audience members to extremes that mandated vicious opining in revenge; and, perhaps, last but not least, because Allen films tend to attract either comedy lovers who are put off by misanthropic elements, or misanthropes who are put off by overly human and flawed characters that don't live up to their notions of worthiness, or which make light of misanthropic virtues.

There's a reason Woody made Stardust Memories, also one of his finest films. The raging disappointment expressed by some toward his more challenging films, and to some of his more phoned in and forgettable ones, points to the creative conflict, and conflicted audience reactions, highlighted in Stardust Memories. All that aside, "Celebrity" is a marvelous film, that surely deserves a better DVD transfer than it receives here. Hopefully, when the entire Allen catalog is given a much needed 16:9 remastering someday, "Celebrity" will re-emerge and be appreciated by new audiences.

I am only writing a review because I see that a lot of people didn't like Celebrity. I rather enjoyed it. I thought there were some hilarious scenes, Judy Davis is terrific, and I even thought Branagh did a fair job.