However, Alice is an absolute must for yesterday, and for my little collection of yet another Woody Allen film with growing affection, and then RocknRolla was actually a surprise choice, the result of an ill-fated match between Johan and a drama film (Two Lovers, which I will soon go to see).
Alice (Woody Allen 1990)
I just love Woody Allen! Not him personally (heard enough complaints about his personal life, especially the love life part) but he is just brilliant and so my cup of tea! Honestly Mia Farrow is not my favorite Woody actress (my favorite is Diane Keaton, absolutely not Scarlett Johansson, although she can be a good actress). I found Mia too often looking a bit too hysterical and fragile to me. And I don't like the way her voice sounds, but she is always perfect in the films.
This film is a typical crazy Woody Allen comedy with funny little lines inserted throughout the film. Now that I have seen a few Woody's films, I begin to recognize his typical humor. Even when she says a line in the film, I don't have to see Woody Allen's face but can imagine that line rolling out from his mouth. And unlike my husband, I found his jokes very funny, mostly because they are neurotic and silly, and meant to be this way.
This is one of the films that has a clear message; for me, not too common with his films. But I love his obsession with old fashioned music, graphic and general ambience. His films (not the news ones, perhaps) always have a nostalgic tone in it, which I adore. I noticed one flash-back/mental image scene which looks a lot like those of Bergman. They typical obsession with religion and sense of guilt, being put in this film in a bitter-sweet way. The subjects are always serious (marriage, personal value, sense of mission, love and betrayal) but the presentations are light. It gives you something without over-lecturing or boring you.
(*****)
RocknRolla (Guy Richie, 2008)
This is the opposite of Allen's films: Big casts, fast pace, flashing cutting, lots of actions and looks very sleek and good. But EMPTY.
I have to say, I didn't even like Rock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. That is supposed to be his best films and I just didn't like it. I always like the cute Brittish accents but that doesn't save this film. The stylish graphics and movements and cutting neither.
The film is about some real estate tyrants trying to do dirty business and get involved with all the other minor lowlifes. Sorry that my summary isn't too precise but the story is obviously not the point of this film. It's about the visual styles and the apper-to-be-witty dialogues. Sorry, didn't get that.
The characters are empty, the story is weak if it ever existed; the actors and actresses (only one female) can't do anything else than looking one-dimensional and cool (yeah, these days, looking cool is everything), which is the role they are given to play. It has way too many characters and way too many lines and plots and music and cutting. It is like a long long MV, flashy and perhaps tasty for most people. But then, after the film, you are left with nothing.
Definitely not my cup of tea, even though the film 'looks' good.
(* for the visual style)
p.s. I have seen enough film to see how empty this film is by simply looking at the stylish and all-too-perfect poster. But what can you do if your other-half is way too attracted to a roller-coaster film experience?
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