Celebrity
(1998)
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Woody Allen's star-studded CELEBRITY skewers America's fascination with fame and glamour. Kenneth Branagh stars as Lee Simon, a travel writer who also interviews celebrities when he's not working on his novel and screenplay--or at least talking about writing them. As he hangs out more and more with supermodels and actresses, living the so-called good life, he ends his 16-year marriage to Robin (the marvelous Judy Davis). The split nearly sends Robin off the deep end until she meets Joe Gardella (Joe Mantegna), a television producer who introduces her to a whole new world. |
After having his own private life splashed all over the tabloids for the last few years, writer/director Woody Allen now uses his own cameras to probe the nature of celebrity. Kenneth Branagh steps up to play the Allen-esque “Ordinary Joe” who finds himself mixing with supermodels (Charlize Theron), spoiled stars (Leonardo DiCaprio) and oversexed actresses (Melanie Griffith), while his ex-wife (Judy Davis) tries to find her own identity as a TV presenter. While not vintage Allen, this black-and-white amusement has some choice moments — notably hooker Bebe Neuwirth teaching Davis how to improve her sexual skills — and some fun tongue-in-cheek performances (check out DiCaprio trying to tempt Branagh into group sex). Forgettable, and not as clever as it wants to be, perhaps, but witty on occasions nonetheless.
Halliwell's Film Guide
With the neurotic centre of energy being occupied by both Branagh and Davis, Allen's on-screen presence is much missed here, while on the other side of the camera he recycles his usual attitudes to relationships without much apparent enthusiasm but with t