With the exception of "Annie Hall" this is easily Woody Allens most personal film and I think its also an homage to the Fellini film 8 1/2 as we watch Allen as Sandy Bates. He's a very successful filmmaker and is hounded by autograph seekers wherever he goes. While at a film festival honoring his work, Bates reflects on his life and relationships and also what direction to take his career into. The studio hates his new film and want it changed. Sound familiar? It should. Charlotte Rampling plays Dorrie who is Bates girlfriend and Marie-Christine Barrault is a woman that Bates has always been in love with and she has just left her husband and taken the kids with her. You can't argue the fact that this is self indulgent as a lot of the critics of this film have complained about. But its suppose to be. I was a little annoyed at some of the turns that the film took and I never really understood the whole UFO watcher segment. Allen does a good job of showing the problems of being a celebrity like the never ending autograph hounds that pop in every situation when he's trying to say something important to someone. It also shows his frustration at the studios who complain that he's not funny enough and want to take control of his own film. But these points are made early and then the rest of the film gets at times repetitive. Yes, we know you don't want to make funny movies anymore because your depressed at the world. One of the fun things about this film is "Spotting the star". Daniel Stern, Amy Wright, Anne DeSalvo, Brent Spiner, Cynthia Gibb and Sharon Stone makes her film debut as the party woman on the train. Not nearly as bad as some have been saying and it does reflect on Woody's conscience. Over the years this film is probably more interesting than when it first came out. Still a must for Allen fans and I think others will have to take their chances on this reflective film.
Review of Stardust Memories
