Film Review: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is not one of Woody Allen’s finest films. Considering the writer-director’s cinematic flair however, the film is still a cut above many other comedy romances.

After forty years of marriage, Alfie leaves his wife Helena to pursue a younger lifestyle and a younger woman. Meanwhile, their daughter Sally longs to start a family but is having marital problems with her husband, struggling writer Greg. Each of the four encounters new people, which leads to trouble…

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger lacks the charm of some of Allen’s earlier efforts, such as Manhattan Murder Mystery. Nevertheless, the film is still amusing and engaging. Characters are well written, if not always likeable, and the incidents that occur offer humour as well as contemplation.

Allen centres the action on a family, and their liaisons with others. It is very much an ensemble piece, with the four main characters wrangling for screen time with the assorted extras. Some of these side characters appear a little one dimensional, but add comedy and drama to proceedings.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is not as witty as some of Woody Allen’s best scripts. Humour is present however, and it is mostly generated through Helena and the minor characters. There is no distinct Woody Allen character, such as Boris in Whatever Works. Instead, a number of the characters take on the writer-director’s typical neuroses. Most prominent of these is Helena, who likes a drink and appears highly-strung. Elsewhere, Roy is the writer struggling with self-confidence, and attracted to a beautiful young woman. It is perhaps because of this absence of the singular recognisable Allen archetype that the film fails to enamour in the same way as the filmmaker’s best films. It is this character type that often brings the wit, which would explain why You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is not as consistently funny as you would hope.

Allen’s other London-based movies have not been that well received. However, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger fares better than the previous movies set in the city. The film paints a fairly romanticised picture of London; the locations featured are in the more attractive areas of the city. This is not unexpected as gritty realism is not something Allen is known for.

Performances from the cast are excellent overall, and the casting is spot on. Gemma Jones as Helena stands out in particular, while Naomi Watts is convincing as Sally. Lucy Punch is suitably over the top as Charmaine.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is an enjoyable movie, which is underscored by a layer of quiet contemplation. It is definitely worth a watch, even if it is not the film Woody Allen fans were hoping for.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Trailer

Here is the trailer for Woody Allen’s latest, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger released on 18th March 2011.

Film Review: Whatever Works

Woody Allen’s Whatever Works, released only recently in the UK, sees a return to form for one of cinema’s most industrious directors and screenwriters.

Boris is an aging, cynical New Yorker set in his ways. When he decides to let a young runaway stay at his apartment, the two form an unlikely friendship, influencing each others’ long-standing beliefs…

Taking the action back to New York was a good move by Allen; it is the setting of some of his best work, after all. Not only is the city presented in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but it also acts as a powerful force within the movie. New York offers the freedom for people to truly be themselves, or at least this is what Whatever Works suggests. 

Allen is back on top form with his writing. The dialogue of Whatever Works showcases his talents at their best; it is witty and intelligent, yet relatable. Unfortunately the director does not appear in this film. He is, however, manifest in the character of Boris; the idiosyncrasies, the neuroses and the attitude is plain to see.

Larry David does an excellent job as protagonist Boris. At times an unlikeable character, nevertheless there is something intensely human (that is to say fallible) about him, which makes it easy to relate to him. Rachel Evan Wood gives a good performance as the young Melody, and Patricia Clarkson excels in her supporting role.

Whatever Works, like most Woody Allen films, won’t appeal to everyone. However, it is both an enjoyable and a well-made film. Unlike so much of mainstream Hollywood’s recent output, the film offers good writing, good performances, and that crucial element of originality.

Whilst last year’s Vicky Christina Barcelona was a cut above a lot of other releases, it lacks the warmth that emanates from Whatever Works. At the beginning, Boris tells the audience that this isn’t a “feel-good film”. But it really is, as the underlying premise is an immensely positive one. By this standard, Allen’s next release, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, is eagerly anticipated.