Woody Allen is always magnificent at two things: writing dialog and directing small, intimate scenes. And both of those talents are on display here. However where he can stumble is building individual scenes into an overall narrative or plot, and that is the big problem with "Café Society". It is a series of interesting scenes that resolutely refuse to gel into a real story.
The theme of "things just happen" is often important to Allen's movies. "Crimes and Misdemeanors" turns it into a real virtue as a storytelling device. However here (and in some other of Allen's later-period movies) things just stumble along as though hoping to find meaning or resolution, and when they don't, the film sort of gives up with a shrug.
The cinematography, set design, costumes, art direction and other visual aspects are all top-notch. The period details are nicely handled and immerse you into the time frame. There were only a couple of glaring anachronisms in the script, which most people won't catch. And the acting, top to bottom, was no less than "good", and often great, with even Eisenberg's Woody Allen impersonation working pretty well. Blake Lively and Kristen Stewart were both remarkably charming in their roles, while Steve Carell, given little to do, did little.
Overall, worth a viewing as a piece of fluff, but don't expect that it will be up there with any of Allen's major works, or even mid-level. An evening of light entertainment that will soon be forgotten.
The theme of "things just happen" is often important to Allen's movies. "Crimes and Misdemeanors" turns it into a real virtue as a storytelling device. However here (and in some other of Allen's later-period movies) things just stumble along as though hoping to find meaning or resolution, and when they don't, the film sort of gives up with a shrug.
The cinematography, set design, costumes, art direction and other visual aspects are all top-notch. The period details are nicely handled and immerse you into the time frame. There were only a couple of glaring anachronisms in the script, which most people won't catch. And the acting, top to bottom, was no less than "good", and often great, with even Eisenberg's Woody Allen impersonation working pretty well. Blake Lively and Kristen Stewart were both remarkably charming in their roles, while Steve Carell, given little to do, did little.
Overall, worth a viewing as a piece of fluff, but don't expect that it will be up there with any of Allen's major works, or even mid-level. An evening of light entertainment that will soon be forgotten.