Customer Reviews

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Doing a period piece seems to put Woody Allen at the top of his game, possibly because he has the intrinsic ability to capture a specific time and place and make a truly transporting experience out of it. Which is exactly what he's done with "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," which he not only wrote and directed, but stars in, as well. Set in 1940, it's the story of CW Briggs (Allen), an investigator for an insurance company which, despite the exemplary achievements of CW has been slipping at the bottom line, forcing the company's exec., Chris Magruder (Dan Aykroyd), to call upon the services of an efficiency expert, Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt). But there's a problem right from the start, in that CW and Betty Ann simply do not hit it off. And the situation is quickly exacerbated when a rash of thefts-- involving millions of dollars worth of jewelry and goods-- begins to occur among clients for whom the company has installed security systems. An inside job is suspected, and to CW's chagrin, more outside help is brought in. So now CW has to contend with that, as well as his new nemesis, Betty Ann; and the way he sees it, there's only one way to fix it all: Solve the case. And with that, the hunt is on...

Character and dialogue driven, Allen's film is loaded with atmosphere and detail that really puts you in the story; you can almost feel Bogart's presence in such films as "The Big Sleep" and "The Maltese Falcon," the spirits of which permeate this film. The dialogue is snappy and clever-- some of Allen's best ever-- and he presents it all in a way that sustains interest and makes it thoroughly involving and entertaining. In fact, it's the ongoing banter between CW and Betty Ann that really makes this one click, and it's perfectly delivered, with timing by Allen and Hunt that is right on the mark.

This is the most screen time Allen has had, himself, in some time, and he's good; his trademark neurotic groping-for-a-word delivery is tempered and finely tuned, which makes his character entirely credible. Allen is looking older, but he's growing into his age well, and actually has a much less disheveled appearance here than usual, which has seemingly been an innate trait of his regardless of the role he's playing. And, though there have been films of his that one could say simply had too much "Woody" in them, that is not the case here. It's a good performance, his scenes with Hunt are alive, and he has some moments with Charlize Theron that are even better.

Hunt does a great job, too; Betty Ann is a bit like her Darcy McGuire in "What Women Want," but with a harder, more intimidating edge that works well for this character. She manages to make Betty Ann both feminine and feminist at the same time, reminiscent of some of the characters that Davis, Crawford and Stanwyck played so successfully in films past. There's some obvious chemistry at work in her scenes with Allen-- the one in which they are hypnotized is hilarious-- but it's absent in her screen time with Aykroyd, though it may have more to do with their respective characters than anything. And it's refreshing to see a strong female character to whom Allen's character can relate on a personal level that, though it involves conflict, is devoid of his typically neurotic and paranoid responses. They may not like each other, but CW at least relates to Betty Ann in a very straightforward manner. It has to do with the way the characters were written, of course, but part of it is in the way Hunt transfers the Betty Ann found on the page into a real person.

One of the highlights of this film is the performance by Charlize Theron, in which, as Laura Kensington, she is transformed into the second coming of Lauren Bacall. Laura is the epitome of the femme fatale, in the way she looks, speaks and moves; you keep waiting for her to say "You know how to whistle, don't you Steve?" It's a supporting role that actually affords Theron comparatively little screen time, but she makes the most of it, and she is certainly a memorable asset to the film.

Also effective in a small, but pivotal role, is David Ogden Stiers, as Volton, a part that would have been so perfect for the late Orson Welles. In the absence of Welles, however, Stiers does a very commendable job.

Allen put together a terrific supporting cast for this one, including John Schuck (Mize), Elizabeth Berkley (Jill), Wallace Shawn (George), John Tormey (Sam), Kaili Vernoff (Rosie), Brian Markinson (Al) and Peter Gerety (Ned). There's an inspired precision to this film, in the way Allen blends the story, characters and music (such a big part of creating that necessary atmosphere) that makes "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" something of a minor classic in the Allen canon. Aficionados of the classic films of this period will be especially delighted with this one, but anyone who appreciates a film that is well crafted and delivered and provides some solid entertainment will be satisfied, as well. Allen geared this film to a specific audience (albeit fairly wide), and for those who fall within it's parameters, it's right on target. One has to wonder, though, why he didn't film it in glorious black & white, which would have been so perfect. But taken as it is, it's still a part of the magic of the movies.

This is a good film. The attention to detail in set design is excellent and the dialogue is witty. Perhaps more could have been made of the relationship between Woody's character and that of Charlie Therzon. They cerainly seem to have more of an onscreen electricity than Allen and Hunt. Hunt looks like she was dissapointed she wasn't in a more introspective Allen movie with a bit more weight, rather than a funny, period piece. Still the movie is very watchable and certainly deserving of more than the one and a half stars it was given in the all movie guiide.

The first time I saw "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion " in the theatre I disliked it.At the time it seemed over talky and had a claustrophobic feel to it. Woody looked way off on this one.I felt bad because usually I'm a huuuge Woody fan! But the second time I saw the film on DVD, it was a totally different experience. I found this movie to be the perfect companion for the small screen.It just works in this medium."The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is Woody's homage to all those old 1940's Bob Hope movies. You know the ones where Bob is one way or another a cowardly private eye constantly getting into danger and falling in with pretty girls who are usually smarter then he is.Think "My Favorite Blonde".In this 40's period film, Woody plays an investigator for an insurance firm who is constantly at verbal odds with the company's acerbic, efficiancy expert named Betty Ann Fitzgerald (well played by Helen Hunt).One night at a company party, in a night club,the pair are brought on stage and hypnotized for the amusement of the audience.All is well, until we later find out that Voltan,the hypnotist, is an evil crook. He has never released the two from their hypnotic suggestion and goes on to use them to steal Jewels from the wealthy clients of the insurance company.This slight plot, which easily could have been lifted from an 1940s short serial,is really an excuse for Allen and Hunt to go at each other with a series of hilarious exchanges and fights that remind me of verbal sparring matches in movies such as "The Front Page" and "Women of the Year". Allen and Hunt are backed by an excellent supporting cast that include stand out performances from Dan Aykroyd, Charlize Theron, Wallace Shawn, Elizabeth Berkley and David Ogden Stiers as the evil Voltan.One of the most wonderful features of this film is it's 1940s retro look and feeling.The cinematography and art direction are amazing!It is a really beautiful looking film, which also accuratly gets it's historical period.You feel like your watching an original, old technicolor movie, that would appear on the 'Late Show'at 2am.This is hardly one of the most important movies to come from the Woody Allen film cannon ("Manhattan, "Annie Hall", Hannah & Her Sisters"), but I will reccomend it to anyone, who wants an evening of old fashion, light-weight, fun entertainment on the small screen.

Highly underrated movie that snaps along with wit, urbane dialogue and a twist of intrigue. Set in his staple 1940's jazz-tinged Manhattan, Allen deals out one-liners at a rhythmic pace. Story has the strong form, zaniness and touch of heart that exemplify his best work. Strong character performances hit the right beat as well.

"The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is a romantic comedy/crime/mystery set in New York City of the 1940s which involves a love-hate relationship between veteran insurance investigator CW Briggs (Woody Allen) and his new boss Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt). One night, while watching the Magician's show with the rest of the employees, they are both hypnotized by a sinister hypnotist with a jade scorpion who later uses them into unknowingly stealing jewels for him. Had this comedy been written and directed by someone else, it would've been a disaster but Allen with his magic touch, had produced a funny and charming delight. That's what my husband called it after we enjoyed it together and I can't agree more. I love Ellington's music, the whole 40-th setting, and Woody's one-liners. His face in the scene where he and Helen Hunt were both hypnotized was simply hilarious - the guy knows how to do a physical comedy to perfection. I don't care if this picture has been called "a lesser Allen's movie" - it is still much better than majority of the comedies that come out every year. Even "lesser Allen" is enjoyable and memorable.

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is not as overtly funny as Small Time Crooks, and the concept is a little dated.

Woody plays a claims investigator/detective for an insurance company. Dan Aykroyd is memorable as Woody's boss, and Helen Hunt is a driven efficiency expert aiming to tighten up the corporate ship, possibly by outsourcing the investigations and firing the in-house talent.

Curse is an homage to an earlier, gentler style of comedy, appearing to be set in the 1930s or 40s. The humor depends on suspension of disbelief regarding a hypnotist who programs Woody to behave totally out of character, and the old movie plotline of love developing between opposites who attract is resurrected. The story resolves when the investigator solves the mystery of his own behavior.

I found the characters loveable, the dialogue snappy. The whole film has a kind of warm human glow. Don't expect to fall on the floor holding your sides with laughter. But you ought to smile, and Woody is out of fashion enough to give us a happy ending.

Say what you will about Woody Allen, but I think he's still one of the better film makers around. The plot was funny, clever, and very entertaining. The cast, especially Helen Hunt were great. I particularly liked the setting in the 1940's. Everything looked and felt true to the period. Too bad more people didn't get a chance (or wouldn't give it a chance might be better term) to see this film. Another Woody classic.

Woody Allen has never made any bones about the fact that his major comedic influence has been Bob Hope. Since the beginning of his now 30-plus years as a director/ actor, Hope's signature persona, delivery and style have been stamped all over Allen's various comic roles. Now in "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion", which seems to be nothing less than a homage of sorts to many of Hope's classic comedies from the 40's to early-50's, Woody revels in the opportunity to play that falsely vain, wise-cracking coward that was Hope's unique contribution to screen comedy. In this cleverly plotted and always entertaining film. Allen casts himself as a crack(and of course, wise-cracking) insurance fraud investigator who takes an instant dislike to a new, attractive female efficiency expert(Helen Hunt) -her feelings toward Allen are mutual - she can barely utter a sentence without insulting him, or questioning his capabilities, morality and indispensibility to the company. However, in the world of Woody Allen, the romantic, you can be assured that this reciprocal animosity is but the prelude to a kiss. In this outing, as in so many of Allen's films there has been a paper-thin line between love & hate. The plot takes a delicious turn when both Allen and Hunt unwittingly come under the control of a nefarious hypnotist-entertainer(David Ogden Steirs), who uses first Allen, then Hunt. to pull off a series of jewelry heists. This leads to the amusing spectacle of Allen, the ace detective, trying to solve crimes of which he himself is guilty. The hypnotist's devilish scheme also ironically leads to Allen and Hunt realizing they are in love and made for each other. Throw in Dan Ackroyd as the married boss having a convenient affair with Hunt, while all the while stringing her along with endless promises that he intends to divorce his wife; Charlene Thirzon as a Veronica Lake-type temptress, and striking set design, dialogue, gorgeous photography and atmospherics which so effectively evoke the 1940's, and you have a treat for not only the funny bone,but also the senses. And, oh, those wise-cracks! One in particular bears repeating: One of Allen's colleagues remarks of a young lovely, "She's got a body that won't quit!" To which Woody replies, "Quit!? It won't even take a 5-minute coffee break!!" "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"is yet another treat from one of the true geniuses of American cinema -in loving tribute to Bob Hope, a cinema funny man for the ages.

Firstly, I'd like to tell everyone that I hardly even know who Woody Allen is. As far as I know this is the only film of his I've ever seen. I watched this movie with no bias for or against him... But I LEFT loving him! This was a great movie! What really sticks out is the dialogue, very clever and funny. The main character C W Briggs is great, as well as the secondary character Betty-Anne Fitzgerald. They both have very strong personalities. The characters and the dialogue really make this movie. And the story's interesting too, of course!

I first watched "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" on a business flight and literally laughed my head off from start to finish. In fact, given the duration of the flight, I re-watched the movie back-to-back and found myself relishing the ingenuity and humor of the script second time round over the space of an hour. Bought the DVD immediately as I returned home and watched the movie for the third time over the course of three days. Cross my heart, I continued to crack up over the quirky lines and snapbacks so diligently peppered throughout this gem of a comedy.

Some may argue the plot was ultra-predictable. But coining a wonderful phrase Allen's character quoted in the movie, it would be "multiple stupidity" to ignore a highly entertaining movie on the basis of this. The supporting cast was sensational, especially Charlize Theron playing drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale Laura Kensington against Allen's investigator CW Briggs. The scene where she lured Allen without success was done with such great panache and comic timing.

Naturally, like many reviewers in this space, I have been a big fan of Woody Allen, especially for his nostalgic films of the bygone years immortalised in movies like "Purple Rose of Cairo", "Radio Days", "Love & Death" et al. What I am most pleasantly surprised by "Curse" is the inimitable return of Allenesque's hilarity and self-mockery, and if anything, much more so at a time when some critics deemed to be in his senile, old age. "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" is amongst the best of his period pieces, celebrating great sets by Santos Loquasto, Woodman's tasteful choice of music for the soundtrack (check out the ingenious use of music on the entrance of Laura Kensington) and featuring a familiar Woodman cast doing what they did best - having a whale of a time while filming.