User reviews

The problem with Woody Allen is that he has made great films, a lot, and that expectations for his work are always high. With 'Celebrity' it was not different and therefore it is a little disappointing. If another writer director would have made this film I think I would have liked it better. Maybe that is strange, to compare it with his other films simply happens.

In 'Celebrity' we follow Kenneth Branagh who plays Woody Allen, although he is named Lee Simon. A movie without Woody Allen himself is nice, but with a character that basically is Allen, why not play it yourself? On the other hand, Branagh does a terrific job. We see how Branagh divorces his wife and after that we have single episodes of his life where he meets women, tries to make them his, fails or succeeds, only to enter the next episode. At the same time we follow his ex-wife, Robin (Judy Davis), who meets a new man Tony (Joe Mantegna) and does settle.

Branagh is a writer. He writes a novel, has written two novels with bad reviews and now he finished a screenplay. In the episodes he tries to offer his script or new novel to people who can change it into a movie or book. We have Melanie Griffith and Leonardo DiCaprio as spoiled actors, Famke Janssen as a girl who really likes him and could help get his story into a book, Winona Ryder as the girl he has some real chemistry with and Charlize Theron as a supermodel.

The problem is that every episode feels like an episode instead of everything combined as a movie. The Theron and DiCaprio episodes are great, the Winona Ryder episode is sweet, the others are pretty standard. The intercuts of the ex-wife's life are pretty good as well, but still feel as single episodes.

Although the film as a whole is not that great there are enough moments to enjoy it. You will not be bored. The black and white photography looks terrific and that is something that makes the movie more pleasant. It is well acted and of course directed, but for a Woody Allen comedy it is not my first choice.

One of the most brilliant Woody Allen's 90s' pictures, such a mockery of the "beautiful people" with some traces of a romantic comedy and some reflexions about couple troubles made in Woody. But there's an objection and that's Kenneth Brannagh. He's a great actor (no doubt about it) but in "Celebrity" you can't help thinking that he's imitating the character that Woody should've played. It's quite clear that Woody wrote this for himself, but he was too old to play a man that conquers Winona Ryder or Famke Janssen.

Last but not least, what about Judy Davis?? God, she's magnificent, one of the best actresses ever, and that scene with the prostitute is totally hilarious. Woody should've married her instead of Mia 30 years ago!!

So, if Woody would've played the role that eventually played Brannagh this could've been one of his best works. But Brannagh is not Woody, and that's noticeable.

*My rate: 7/10

CELEBRITY (1998) ***1/2

The biggest irony in CELEBRITY is how long it took to be released in Brazil: two years. This is not a common thing here, but it has also happened to DECONSTRUCTING HARRY, SWEET AND LOWDOWN and now SMALL TIME CROOKS. It seems that they have something against Woody Allen and his fans, but in fact it is a problem among the distributors. However, the wait was worthy: CELEBRITY is a great film.

It received bad reviews in the US for no apparent reason- here in Brazil the reviews were almost universally positive. Maybe the critics are tired of Woody Allen, maybe they just didn't get his point. The truth is that CELEBRITY is no ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS or CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, but is a great film overall.

The story is about a divorced couple- Lee and Robin Simon (Kenneth Branagh and Judy Davis), who try to find their position in the society. Lee is a journalist who starts to write about art, so he gets closer to celebrities. He gets involved with lots of women- the futile actress Nicole Oliver (Melanie Griffith) who belongs to her husband only down the neck, a supermodel (Charlize Theron) with an "erotic failure", a cold woman (Famke Janssen) who wants to live with him, and a second rate actress (Winona Ryder) who is not his "obscure object of desire" as he thinks. He is between finish writing his novel (after the bad reviews for his first novel) and trying to sell a script- when he meets another futile star (Leonardo DiCaprio). In resume, his life is a mess with no way-back. In the meantime, his ex-wife Robin, an English teacher, ironically gets more luck than him: she meets a TV producer (Joe Mantegna), who thinks she has a future as a TV presenter.

With a good story in hands, Allen turns it into an acid, funny film. But you know the laughs in his films aren't gratuitous- they come naturally, or depending on the way you get into the scene. And they are also bitter (remember the subtitles scene in ANNIE HALL)- this taste of humor is not for everyone. The funniest, best scene is when the prostitute teaches Davis' character how to do a blow-job, using a banana.

As usual, Allen takes great performances from the whole cast. Kenneth Branagh has been criticized for imitating Woody Allen too much, but I think he did a great job. We already know Judy Davis (especially), Joe Mantegna and Winona Ryder are terrific, but it is a miracle what Allen can do with Melanie Griffith, Leonardo Di Caprio and Charlize Theron, usually bland performers. Charlize is the most peculiar character and delivers a great and funny performance.

The main detail of the film is the use of black-and-white. This is not the first time Allen uses that (MANHATTAN, STARDUST MEMORIES, SHADOWS AND FOG), but it is almost a character in this picture- it shows a world that is even more sufocating than ours. With that, he makes an acid critic about our society, that turns superficial, futile people into instant celebrities. This is not new, of course, but here these people are also victims of the sufocating society. If a society can be interpreted by who it chooses to celebrate, it is worse than it seems to be.

Allen commits some mistakes here and there with his critic, but you don't find many films like this out there- clever, funny, bitter and realistic. Remember the HELP sign on the air...

As Woody Allen is too old for the lead, Kenneth Branagh literally steps into his shoes and does such an effective job at playing Woody that he must have watched every Allen movie at least six times. The film is hilarious but deep--like his best films. It explores our obsession with celebrities and the media's obsession with them, and I wonder how much "acting" Leonardo DiCaprio did for this film. But the more I thought about it afterwards, the more I realized how sad the movie is at its core--the word "help" being written in the sky may be what Allen is thinking--is this what we have become? So obsessed with fortune and fame that we literally prostitute ourselves and become someone we aren't (i.e. Judy Davis' character)?

The movie seems more timely now than in 1998. Americans seem to be more interested in what Paris Hilton does on TV, or what J-Lo and Affleck are up to, than what's going on in the world. "Celebrity" nails it, and like Deconstructing Harry, does it in a rather vulgar manner. But you have to wonder how much of this is based on real events (again, I cite Di Caprio). This was the second movie (after 2 Days in the Valley) that made me aware of the statuesque beauty of Charlize Theron. I didn't think she could act worth a hoot (that opinion recently changed), but she sure looked like a rich runway model to me. This movie is one of my favorite Woody films of the '90s, and one of his most underrated. It's also visually beautiful, in black & white that recalls the photography of Manhattan.

Kenneth Branagh plays not Woody, doing his best Woody impression as he divorces his wife and stumbles through relationships and life, failing to sell a screenplay and write a novel while his ex becomes a famous TV personality, gets married, and pregnant.

This movie looks amazing in black and white and is occasionally brilliant if scattershot, There are loads of cameos and some really funny moments even though the plot kind of stumbles around and takes too long to get to its point,. That said, when it works, its great, even though it sometimes doesn't. Probably a middle of the road Woody movie, but still worth seeing.

As once said about Beetlejuice, "Without Noni, the film would have floated off into the stratosphere." Sure, this film is somewhat believable - another Woody Allen masterpiece - but Winona Ryder's interpretation and presentation of her character, Nola, seems most believable. She's a desperate movie extra, accepting of any role that comes her way, even if it means lying in bed with another woman... that was hilarious! She's the most realistic, the most in-tune with reality... definitely the girl next door - or the girl I'd want next door, anyway.

"Celebrity" is a unique, funny, intelligent comedy that's beyond comprehension. And the black and white helps accentuate the behind-the-scenes atmosphere. There's a constant array of big celebrities that fill the screen, with one grand performance after another. I have to especially commend Kenneth Branaugh for his dead-on portrayal of Woody Allen--he's not directly portraying Woody's real-life character and has a different name, but Branaugh displays Woody's every neurotic mannerism and gesture perfectly to the point where you actually think that's Woody on screen!!! The script is filled with unique, entertaining characters and though some may feel there are too many--I thought the characters all interlocked perfectly and Woody brought everything together in a slick, focused manner. There are some landmark moments, like when Judy Davis (the ex-wife of Kenneth Branaugh's character) comes to her friend, Bebe Neuwirth, for sex advice. That scene had me on the floor!

If you're expecting sharp, insightful humor that can only be delivered by the Wood-meister, you won't be disappointed! You will laugh the whole way through!

My score: 7 (out of 10)

One of Woody Allen's worst films, a brilliant defense for anyone who considers Allen out-of-touch, self-indulgent, and irrelevant. A storyless mishmash of tired, unfunny gags, Woody has absolutely nothing to say and takes forever to say it (uncharacteristic for Allen, who's films have been the last bastion of auteur-brevity, the movie is a trying two hours-plus). Sure, the movie looks dynamite, and sure it's got a great cast trying its best, but can anyone honestly tell me that this movie's humor wasn't musty, it's narrative wasn't rambling, it's attempts at satire weren't annoyingly weak? A real disappointment, especially following last year's wonderfully vulgar, honest, and funny "Deconstructing Harry." This has to be the worst fall-winter film season in years.

Woody Allen's imagination is endless. Once again he manages to captivate with this very smart and subtle tale of interrelated stories while delivering a very strong punch of social critique. If you are an Allen's fan you will like it, if not... don't bother. This is only a movie for the initiated.

In the late '90s, we began to find Woody Allen's work stale because he was focusing on neurotic rich New Yorkers and the various goings-on in their lives. Personally, most people could give a rip about that stuff. "Deconstructing Harry" was better since it showed these people as more vicious, and "Celebrity" goes so far as to make fun of them. Kenneth Branagh plays Allen-esquire magazine writer Lee Simon, who has to be surrounded by various and sundry celebrities. Leonardo DiCaprio has the best role, basically playing a parody of himself. Probably the best line is when they see Andre Gregory's character, and they say that he's one of those directors who's gotten into...well, I'll let you find out for yourself. But this one is worth seeing, unlike "Everyone Says I Love You".

This movie centers on Kenneth Branagh who portrays the speaking style, mannerisms, and neurotic attitude of 1970's Woody Allen. I could not believe Kenneth Branagh in this role. All I could see was an actor pretending to be Woody Allen. I could find nothing funny in this movie. I gave up on this movie when I got to the scene where Kenneth Branagh is giving a woman a ride in his car and she says she has mirrors on her bed and Branagh gets so flustered at that thought that he makes a left turn into a picture window and crashes the car. I think it was supposed to be funny, but the reaction was just illogical.

Celebrity (1998) Woody Allen accomplishes what Bob Altman attempted in Ready to Wear: showing lots of movie stars and model types acting like, well movie stars and model types. Pretty boy Leo DiCaprio has a good turn as a hotshot, teen throb amidst orgies and dramatic posturing. Lots of selfish, crude behavior on the part of everyone makes this a veritable "How to Succeed in Hollywood" movie, though I wonder if that was Woody's intention.

"Celebrity" was pretty much maligned back during its initial release, but my wife and I had a blast with it, and I think it deserves a second look from people who dismissed it the first time around.

Kenneth Branagh is an able Allen stand in, playing a writer struggling with all of the things characters in Woody Allen movies struggle with. But it's the story of his ex-wife, played by Judy Davis almost as a parody of herself from other Allen movies, that's most memorable. One of the film's highlights is Davis's character receiving advice on how to administer oral sex from a hooker, played by Bebe Neuwirth. Let's just say a banana and a close call are involved.

The night my wife and I saw this, we lost our car in the parking lot of the movie theater and wandered around in a frigid Chicago night, giggling because we couldn't find it. The situation was made even funnier because we kept crossing paths with another couple who had lost THEIR car, and were giggling because they couldn't find their's either. Maybe that's why I have such fond memories of this movie.

Grade: A-

Like "The Purple Rose of Cairo", "Celebrity" leaves it's central character sitting forlornly in a movie theatre, thinking what might have been. Unlike that fine film, however, this is a pretentious and shallow mess that never convinces and is rarely funny. Allen's over-lapping ad-lib dialogue style runs rampant here with little scripted text. It's just as well because the scripted lines sound hack written ("Who knew that angels flew so low?"). Branagh (standing in for Allen and almost imitating his put-upon demeanor and stumble-bum delivery at times) and co-star Judy Davis are both affecting American accents - fake number one. Other stars rush in and out of the picture like they've got plans elsewhere. After the first ten minutes, the audience will feel likewise. Phoney plot contrivances (writer with only one copy of a novel; bride runs from her own wedding) only make matters worse. Final skywriting scene says it all - "HELP"!

A lot of the reviews have said that this film is one of the weaker recent Woody Allen movies, but I actually thought it was his best since Husbands and Wives. It's much more subtle but every bit as scathing as Deconstructing Harry. Everyone says Woody's films just aggrandize himself, but I feel that his latest few have been exercises in self-loathing.

Certain people (in these very pages) have felt that one is supposed to sympathize with the Branagh character. Certain people, we must remember, are on crack. Branagh plays a low-life louse who gives the word narcissim a whole new meaning. He is looking to revitalize his life by entering the world of celebrities. He is contrasted with his ex-wife (the always amazing Judy Davis... who doesn't she do more films?) who is also looking to change her life, but not necessarily by becoming famous. She does become famous, and near the end she says what I think is the key line: "I've become the kind of person I've always detested, but I'm happier." My friend and I had an argument later about what the film was saying: a) that Judy has given up on seriousness and meaning by becoming a celebrity, but now she's happier, or b) that the "entertainment products" that these people turn out don't matter at all, and that if one can find personal happiness (Judy eventually becomes much more social and comfortable with people) by doing them, then that's great. I don't know, but this is a far more interesting treatise on finding happiness than the dreary "Happiness" was.

This is also the funniest Allen film in years, with two total laugh-out-loud lines which I won't spoil here.

Overall, I felt the celebrity part, and all the walk-ons we not at all the focus of this movie, it just uses that world as a backdrop. This film is also very sweet and real, with the scene in which Judy Davis visits a psychic being one of the most intimate and touching I've seen.

One last thing, it's fun to see a Woody Allen film in New York City, because you can watch the audience trying to identify all the places where the scenes are set.

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Woody Allen is concerned about what is happening to his intelligent characters. And he is crying "Help!" right off the screen. Because they are reasons to fear. The world begins to look like a TV show. Fame has depriced. Instead of real qualities it gives us a parody of them (a preacher from TV thinks about whether The Beatles were more popular than Jesus).

The main thing is how to find yourself in this world. Allen seems to doubt. He think that we might be zombificated. Let's look at Robin Simon (Judy Davis) from his movie. Soon ago she was an English teacher, A specialist in Chaucer's poetry. Then she met a handsome producer Tony Gardella (Joe Mantegna). She becomes a host of a TV show and makes stupid interviews. What's worse, she feels good doing that. She sees nothing inappropriate in walking into Charles Manson's (the massacre at Polanski's villa was his inspiration) cell with camera. The TV producer seems to be a modern wizard. At a family party his relatives ask his to do this or that. He can do everything.

The character of the film, celebrity journalist Lee Simon (Keneeth Branagh), can't resist of that kind of life's luxuries. His first two novels weren't successful. He has problems with finishing the third one. He'd rather work on a movie screenplay. It's bigger fame and bigger cash. Only a simple old woman, Gardella's grandmother is left with the remains of sanity. She is disturbed when hearing about a guy that was being held hostage by some thugs and now he is giving performances in schools as a hero. She asks surprised whether it is enough.

"Celebrity" is a great fun about revealing the rules of that crying game that involves selling your own identity. The memoirs of a star taken back to the house she used to live in, seem like if they were written for a tabloid. A young actor Darrow (self-ironic DiCaprio) demolishes the hotel room, but the owners have nothing against his destructive actions. His presence in the hotel is in fact an advertisement. Darrow pretends for a second there that he takes life seriously. Just as he treats the script given by Simon. But all in all Darrow is interested only in parties, women, drugs and boxing fights. Nola, the statist (Winona Ryder) will go to bed with anyone who will make her an actress.

In Woody Allen's movie people are attracted to fiction. Nola allows Simon to seduce her when he speaks to her with words take out of a novel. The reality gives no one satisfaction, need re-editing. That is why everyone is after Dr Lupus, a plastic surgeon.

For many years now it is said that Allen is repeating his own motives and frustrations. Maybe it's true, but he still does that perfectly. He is even capable of making fun of directors shooting in non-color, while his own film is shot in that technique (cinematography by Sven Nykvist). The greatness of Allen allows the viewer to accept with astonishment such scenes that they would have been inappropriate if made by anyone else. That includes a runaway bride five minutes before wedding and a couple breaking off in a moment the removal company places her stuff in his apartment.

A master is a master.

Celebrity (1998)

3/4

There are some things that I do not like about Woody Allen's "Celebrity" but I do think that it is still capable filmmaking and entertaining, if overlong. One reason that I know I enjoyed it so much was that the film was shot entirely in black and white, which is an achievement for any filmmaker, especially in 1998, and is surely something that every filmmaker wants to achieve. Allen, here, collaborates with Sven Nykvist, the brilliant mind behind "Fanny and Alexander" which was one of the most beautiful movies ever shot. "Celebrity" is beautiful in its own way, showing real life, with some great visuals and layouts.

Allen's film is about a divorce between two people, Lee (Kenneth Branagh) and Simon (Judy Davis). Lee is a somewhat struggling traveling writer who has attempted to write books but ended up in his current job because of his inability for success, and Simon is an English teacher. Lee has been unhappy for a while during his 16 years with her, and has suddenly asked her for a divorce because he can't stand it anymore. Their two lives are drastically impacted, becoming involved with all kinds of people and changing their own lifestyles.

It's very Woody Allen of Woody Allen to do a plot like this, and it's a plot that works, too. There are a few dull and uninteresting scenes here and there, but there are some legitimately great scenes with Leonardo DiCaprio, playing a hot young movie star who Lee has to talk with. He's easily the best part of the movie, and I cherished all the scenes with him. The rest of the cast is sort of a mixed bag; Branagh and Davis are sometimes interesting, yet sometimes boring, but I think that they have enough interest in themselves to keep the movie going.

"Celebrity" is not great Woody Allen, yet, somehow, even though it isn't great, it's not bad. It's just minor work by a great filmmaker that contains interest and ideas that I admired, like shooting his whole film in black and white, or the way the character's lives are affected after their divorce. So, a mixed bag, but I liked it enough and admired it enough to really like it.

. . . of Woody Allen. Ever.

Watched (as much of) "Celebrity" (as a could stand) last night. Ugh! It's painful to watch the evermore narcisistic Allen playing himself in his movies, but I felt like he was taking his self-love to entirely new dimensions by directing another actor to play Woody while Woody watched. And Branagh as Woody was just downright painful. And the blatant, pointless, gratuitous oral sex scenes . . . . I walked out when Melanie Griffith was giving Branagh a Bill-logic blowjob, then passed through again on my way to the kitchen to see Bebe Neuwirth choking on a banana after showing Judy Davis (who I normally adore, but who seems to play the same shrill/hysterical character [or are ALL Woody characters that way?] in each of her Woody films) how to fellate it.

Were there others? Dunno . . . . couldn't watch. This was an ugly movie by an ugly man, clearly riding his reputation. Blech! There will be no more Woody in my house when I'm here, unless I decide to rent "Sleeper" at some point for nostalgia's sake . . .

I enjoyed this film a lot more than I expected from what I had heard about it. Woody Allen is a very insightful and acerbic social critic when he wants to be, and his intelligently witty sendups of the pretensions and vapidity of the trendy, cutting edge social set are always dead-on, and this movie is a fine vehicle for them. There many, many very funny moments and situations, and the characters are an amusing bunch, portrayed by an excellent cast. An underrated movie well worth seeing.

What a waste of Kenneth Branagh - although he did a dead on impersonation of Woody Allen, I'm not sure we needed another one. For an actor I admire, he certainly wore out his welcome after the first 30 minutes.

Moreover, the film is rife with situations that just do not seem real. The scene with Charlize Theron was unbelievable - sure, a jaded New Yorker like Lee would certainly drive off the road because of some sexual comment; and of course a writer who had already written two novels would only have one copy of his third; and of course a women getting ready to be married would see a hooker about the fine points of fellatio (an absolutely abysmal scene with Bebe Neuwirth); and of course and of course and....the movie is full of those moments. This is a below standard Woody Allen film with none of the charm of some of his best. He goes to the well often enough with his films in terms of style and content, but this time he certainly brought a teacup.

I ll be honest, im an argentinian historian who absolutely love Woody's cinema, but into his creative world i cant help myself to have preferences. And i consider that The movies he has done in that period, Husbands and wifes (92), Mighty afrodite (95), Deconstructing harry (97) and Celebrity (98) are the Highest of his creativity.

Woody Allen's Celebrity would've been better, but instead of Allen playing the lead (as he usually does) he gives his role he should've played to Kenneth Branaugh. This wouldn't be too bad, but Branaugh's character acts too much like Allen would. He plays a journalist who is in love troubles and is mixed up with a supermodel, actress and others while in a marriage. Not all of this film is funny though, most of it seems like a lash-out from Allen after all the bad tabloids about him. Still, there is a lot to laugh about here, including a OK performance from Leonardo DiCaprio and some great black and white cinematography from cinematography by Sven Nykvyst. A-

Very familiar territory revisited here...I kept thinking of Laraine Newman in 'Stardust Memories' saying "I've seen it all before. They try to document their private suffering and fob it off as art." It's well made but not very interesting (at all). The scene where Judy Davis is given oral sex lessons from Bebe Neuwirth was particularly un-funny. I normally love Woody Allen films but I could not/would not recommend this one.