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Cassandra's Dream (2008)

Average rating

(50%)

Starring:	Ewan McGregor \| Colin Farrell \| Tom Wilkinson \| Hayley Atwell \| Sally Hawkins \| Mark Umbers \| Tamzin Outhwaite \| Andrew Howard \| Clare Higgins \| Phil Davis \| Jim Carter \| John Benfield
Director:	Woody Allen
Studio:	Optimum Home Entertainment
Run time:	104 mins
Genres:	Drama \| Thriller
Released:	September 29, 2008

Woody Allen wrote and directed this London-set feature, a modern noir with black comic trimmings. Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor play working class brothers who dream of better things than their respective mechanic and restaurant jobs. Hard-drinking Terry (Farrell) has a weakness for gambling, while brother Ian (McGregor) hankers for the finer things when he starts dating a very ambitious actress (Hayley Atwell). Fate deals a hand when their rich American uncle (Tom Wilkinson) slinks into London with a murderous proposition.

Named for the boat the lads buy during a rare flush moment--a symbol of the morally compromising power of money and the inevitability, perhaps, of fate--CASSANDRA'S DREAM is another of Allen's loving looks at moneyed urbanites and their penchant for living out Greek tragedy, a la MATCH POINT and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. This time around, it's a bit darker, but with Farrell and McGregor in the leads, there's plenty of star power. The lads are clearly having a ball acting under Allen's direction, and they're allowed to develop a charming, rapid-fire fraternal rapport that carries the film--along with Wilkinson's old-school gravitas and Atwell's luminous charisma. Phillip Glass composed the score.

Screenshots

Rating of 2 stars out of 5
Time Out

Youve got to admire the energy of Woody Allen whos made a film a year since the mid-1960s. But his...

Highest rated reviews

14 out of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4 stars
Doesn't deserve the bad press

dmackroyd from from Blackpool, 1st July, 2008

At the outset, I think it's necessary to point out that, as everyone knows, Woody Allen is a very controversial figure. Due to this, I therefore feel the reviewing of his films become biased. As a film fan, I particularly appreciate great acting. Aside from what anyone says, the acting of Ewan McGregor and particularly Colin Farrell, is exceptionally good. These two actors combine so well, complimenting each other whilst playing such contrasting characters. To conclude, this film has a good story and articularly great acting by the two lead characters. The legend Al Pacino once said that Colin Farrell was the next big thing and Colin has lived up to this statement.

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10 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2 stars
Woody Allen and another British movie...

VANTERHEYDEN from from London, 21st July, 2008

Cassandra’s Dream - (Released in the UK in 2008) Another Woody Allen Film filmed and set in the UK – this seems to becoming quite a habit for the New Yorker. However I fear the uninspiring British Film industry might be rubbing off on him. While great Hollywood movies can be made in the UK (The Dark Knight – 2008) – so often seems to be the case that purely British Movies seem to fall flat on the face and inspire no one (last one I can think of St. Trinians – Garbage). While this is no where near as bad as St. Trianians and it should no way be compared if we’re being realistic Cassandra’s Dream isn’t great. I approached the film with optimism as you always have hope from a Woody Allen movie as well as for the fact that it had Ewan McGregor and the very inconsistent Colin Farrel. I’m not sure what happened here by Allen seems to of pulled a Rogue Trader (1999) Performance out of McGregor – meaning very wooden and in parts not very good. While Colin Farrel shows signs of flare and of something better the performance really isn’t anything that shines. As soon as you realise where this film is headed you won’t believe how predictable the story pans out and my word does it pan out slowly – the only slight surprise in the scheme of things is the redeeming ending however many will of seen this coming. What this film does get right are the nice choices in locations and a fairly strong performance from Sally Hawkins who plays Colin Farrel's Girlfriend while Tom Wilkinson in the odd scene who plays Uncle Mike puts in a fairly consistent performance. All in all I highly doubt you will be overtly impressed. 2 stars.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 1 stars
Allen makes film in his sleep

A Customer from Norwich, England, 26th February, 2010

I'd generally prefer watching any Woody Allen movie to a typical blockbuster, such is his characteristic style. But these days he seems to make films just because he doesn't know what else to do. This is a really bad film. Shot in London, Firth & Macgregor attempt really bad Laandon accents (when they remember to) and walk through the plot without any convincing motivation or characterisation. It's narrative by numbers, just getting from plot point A to plot point B with no care for how we get there. Probably the worst Woody Allen film I've seen so far. But hey, I kind of enjoyed it anyway!

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