I’m a sucker for movies that take place in the past.
Especially when it involves the mid 20th century. Even more so when it is a movie taking place in the mid 20th century written and directed by Woody Allen.
Allen has been making movies for over 40 years at a rate of about a movie per year (that’s a lot of movies for one guy) and in that time he’s experienced no shortage of success both critically and commercially.
However, the past couple of films haven’t quite done it for me, and I kind of think everyone’s been waiting for him to re-ascend to the peak of his cinematic form. “Café Society” is what we’ve been waiting for.
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and Steve Carell who all play Los Angeles socialiates embroiled in a sticky love triangle. Woody Allen’s best film since “Midnight in Paris” in 2011, “Café Society” involves all the components that come together to make an exceptional and entertaining picture.
Even at his advanced age of 80, Allen’s vigor is apparent through unrelenting, witty dialogue and dramatically engrossing subject matter. Eisenberg walks and talks like a young Woody Allen and Kristen Stewart plays a solid balance for the conflicting character dynamic to rest on.
Really, the only fault is in the pacing. You can’t quite get a hold of the rise and fall of the plot as the narrative tension resides in a multitude of scenes both at the beginning, middle, and end of the picture. However, that is a small speed bump on the road to enjoying the terrific depiction of LA and New York wealth and glamor, and the drama it produces.
It just proves that, much like the wine drank throughout “Café Society’s” many fancy dinner party scenes, Woody Allen’s only getting better with age.
I give “Café Society” 3.5/4 stars