I loved the homage to the period and to the Buster Keaton film 'Sherlock Holmes, Jr,' and the idea of disappearing from the disappointments of the real world into the world of the movies. Instead of the filmgoer (Mia Farrow) entering the screen like Keaton, it starts with the actor (Jeff Daniels) noticing her and coming down into the real world. I should say, it's the character the actor plays who comes down into the real world, because the actor himself is separate and, because the playing of the film has ground to a halt, he arrives on the scene as well, which results in an odd love triangle (and not counting her annoying and abusive lout of a husband).
There are some cute and endearing bits, like Farrow playing the ukulele while Daniels sings 'Alabamy bound,' but the creativity and humor seem to fall a little short here, as if Woody Allen had a great concept but then lost his way a little bit in developing it. The rest of the characters from the movie looking out into the audience, Daniels (the character) interacting with Daniels (the actor), the film producers reacting because the movie is no longer playing, etc ... all of this was of some interest, but not as magical as it could have been. It was reasonably entertaining though, and I loved the clip of Fred and Ginger from 'Top Hat,' performing 'Cheek to Cheek.' The magic and lightness of that against Farrow's wan, Depression-era look was truly compelling.
Favorite quote is when the naïve and virtuous fictional character (Daniels) enters a bordello and has this conversation with the prostitutes: Tom Baxter: I was thinking about something. Hooker: I can imagine. Hooker2: Two of us at the same time? Tom Baxter: I was thinking about some very deep things. About God and his relation with Irving Saks and R.H. Levine. And I was thinking about life in general. The origin of everything we see about us. The finality of death and how almost magical it seems in the real world, as opposed to the world of celluloid and flickering shadows. Hooker3: (to another) Where did you find this clown? Tom Baxter: For example, the miracle of birth. Now, I suppose some of you lovely ladies are married? Hooker: Not anymore. Tom Baxter: No? Then the absolutely astonishing miracle of childbirth, with all of its attendant feelings of humanity and pathos. I stand in awe of existence. Hooker2: Do you want to tie me up?
There are some cute and endearing bits, like Farrow playing the ukulele while Daniels sings 'Alabamy bound,' but the creativity and humor seem to fall a little short here, as if Woody Allen had a great concept but then lost his way a little bit in developing it. The rest of the characters from the movie looking out into the audience, Daniels (the character) interacting with Daniels (the actor), the film producers reacting because the movie is no longer playing, etc ... all of this was of some interest, but not as magical as it could have been. It was reasonably entertaining though, and I loved the clip of Fred and Ginger from 'Top Hat,' performing 'Cheek to Cheek.' The magic and lightness of that against Farrow's wan, Depression-era look was truly compelling.
Favorite quote is when the naïve and virtuous fictional character (Daniels) enters a bordello and has this conversation with the prostitutes: Tom Baxter: I was thinking about something. Hooker: I can imagine. Hooker2: Two of us at the same time? Tom Baxter: I was thinking about some very deep things. About God and his relation with Irving Saks and R.H. Levine. And I was thinking about life in general. The origin of everything we see about us. The finality of death and how almost magical it seems in the real world, as opposed to the world of celluloid and flickering shadows. Hooker3: (to another) Where did you find this clown? Tom Baxter: For example, the miracle of birth. Now, I suppose some of you lovely ladies are married? Hooker: Not anymore. Tom Baxter: No? Then the absolutely astonishing miracle of childbirth, with all of its attendant feelings of humanity and pathos. I stand in awe of existence. Hooker2: Do you want to tie me up?