Woody Allen follows lightweight path with latest movie
The 66-year-old filmmaker aims his barbs at familiar and easy targets – notably living in vapid Los Angeles, dealing with tightfisted agents and working with shallow studio executives – in a PG-13 picture in which he plays Val Waxman, a notoriously neurotic New York director. Waxman did his best work a decade ago and has been reduced to shooting deodorant commercials in Canada. The anxiety-ridden man’s opportunity for redemption arrives with an offer from his talented ex-wife, Ellie (Tea Leone of “Jurassic Park III”), who has moved to Los Angeles for an executive position at Galaxy Studios and is engaged to a controlling production chief, Hal (Treat Williams of “The Devil’s Own”).
In Ellie’s view, a gritty New York-set script for a $60 million drama is perfect for Waxman, though Hal believes the struggling director remains as finicky as ever and will make the experience a living hell. The executive is right, of course.
FILM REVIEW
Starring: Woody Allen, Tea Leoni, Debra Messing and Treat Williams; produced by Letty Aronson and Helen Robin; written and directed by Woody Allen.
Running Time: 114 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (sexual elements, adult themes).