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Cafe Society movie poster
Cafe Society movie poster

Cafe Society,

directed by Woody Allen

(PG-13, 1 hour, 36 minutes )

Cafe Society, the 48th film Woody Allen has directed, is what you might expect from one of his movies these days: an intermittently clever script, an overqualified cast, and a character who is obviously a Woody surrogate behaving in Allen-esque ways.

In this film the role falls to Jesse Eisenberg, who earlier took on the role in 2012's To Rome With Love, a broad ensemble comedy that represents a recent low point for the director.

Set in the 1930s, this romantic comedy follows Bronx-born Bobby Dorfman (Eisenberg) to Hollywood where he gets a job in the movie business, falls in love, then heads back to New York, where he is swept up not only in his colorful family shenanigans but also in swanky society nightclub life.

Eisenberg, effective in other roles, seems stolid and mechanical here, in an odd way matching the peculiarly flat narration (supplied by Allen). Cafe Society is highly representative Allen -- older man/younger woman romance, Los Angeles as a vacuous cultural wasteland, and nostalgia for Hollywood's Golden Age. Although it's set in the midst of the Great Depression, it takes absolutely no notice of economic desperation, becoming a tone-deaf valentine to missed opportunities.

But as with a lot of Allen's work, there are redeeming moments. Kristen Stewart continues her run of remarkable turns, putting her Twilight days farther in the rear-view mirror. Jeannie Berlin and Corey Stoll contribute fascinating supporting turns. Somewhere deep in the script -- or at least in Steve Carell's subtle performance as hotshot Hollywood agent Phil Stern -- is an allegory about Jewish insecurity in the run-up to World War II. And Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro renders it all beautifully.

It's not enough, but it's not a collapse. It's just another Allen movie. He has become too efficient, able to finance and produce even his slightest ideas. If he made a movie every two or three years rather than every 10 months he'd be a better director.

With Parker Posey, Ken Stott. Bonus features include a look at the red carpet at the Cafe Society premiere and a photo gallery.

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MovieStyle on 10/21/2016

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