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Lee Simon: Kenneth Branagh Robin Simon: Judy Davis Brandon Darrow: Leonardo DiCaprio Nicole Oliver: Melanie Griffith Bonnie: Famke Janssen Tony Gargella: Joe Mantegna Nola: Winona Ryder Written and Directed by Woody Allen. Running time: 113 minutes. Rated R (for language, sex and some drug use). |
While watching Celebrity, you get the feeling that Allen is trying to send some sort of message to you, but it never comes to you clearly, as he quickly jumps to another scene. During the movie, I wondered where Allen got his material: his own personal experiences, public stereotypes or excerpts from tabloid newspapers. In my opinion, it was probably the latter of the three, but that can easily be rendered false.
Whatever the case, filmed in black and white, Celebrity shows a dark, bleak, and fast-paced world that our celebrated people have to live with each day. The use of B&W instead of color, makes the scenes more vibrant and filled with energy, as we only see light and dark impressions on the screen.
The movie doesn't deal directly with stardom, but does portray some celebrities, none that are in real life though and the lifestyle that they lead in some scenes. None of the celebrities in the film seemed in control of their lives or happy of the situation they were in. They have a trail of cameras follow them around as they record every move they make. Despite the glamourous atmosphere, it is more like hell for them as they never get out of the public eye. The most trivial event can be a front page story for the tabloid papers. They also lose their identity in the world of flashes, as we expect them to act like the characters they play on film. It is almost as if they can never get out of character that we come to know them by. It is as if they never left the movie set.
The film stars Kenneth Branagh as a celebrity journalist, who is trying to peddle his script idea to the celebrities he interviews. As in many of Allen's films, the lead character has little self-esteem, neurotic and has little control of his surroundings and the people close to him. Branagh plays Lee as if Allen was doing the character himself. His imitations are so perfect, right down to his vocal mannerisms i.e. stuttering and the body language (you remember those hand gestures he uses that make him look as if he was drowning in air) that you wonder why Allen didn't just play the character himself.
Lee Simon is in his mid-thirties, recently divorced and is having a serious mid-life crisis. After going to his class reunion, he finds out that he isn't ready to go bald, chubby or own a antique store much like his peers in a hilarious and frightening scene. His realization of his dejected life causes Lee to live his life more fruitfully.
His solution turned out to be ending his sixteen year marriage with his wife, Robin (Judy Davis), buying an antique Aston-Martin and trying to become famous with his movie script that can be tailored made for each star he meets.
His breakup doesn't come smoothly, as he never says the "d-word" out loud, but tries to make her realize it anyway. Lee fights with his words, as he tries to give reasons to break up the marriage, but ends up frustrated himself, as he can't bear to talk anymore. In the end, Lee gets his wish, receiving his freedom, while Robin goes through a nervous breakdown. Robin then heads to a sanctuary from the advice of her friend.
Meanwhile, the movie sometimes breaks the slow pace of the film to show scenes that have nothing to do with the story that is unfolding. The scenes are badly needed and are silly and entertaining to watch. They are the best part of the movie. One of the best scenes takes place at a sanctuary that is run by the church. A famous Reverend, who appears on TV every Sunday, visits the sanctuary. A crowd of fans forms a circle around him and greets him with much delight. The crowd is anxious, as they sit the Reverend down and ask him religious questions like "Who do you think is bigger, Elvis or Jesus?" The Reverend with a serious yet relaxing tone replies, "Elvis, of course."
The film is also filled with many cameos including Donald Trump (buying St. Patrick's Cathedral so he could tear it down and "put something nice up") and Isaac Mizrahi (a painter who is tried and sick of the public's adoration of his work just because he is famous).
The best sequence in the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, as a naive young movie star that beats up his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol) and trashes his hotel room. Could Allen be spoofing the Johnny Depp and Kate Moss incident in 1997, when Depp trashed his hotel room in New York City? Lee gets a meeting with the rising star and tries to pitch the script to him. However, the young star has other plans, as he decides to take Lee on a wild night filled with boxing, gambling, girls and drugs.
Lee is a gullible man that needs someone to guide him on what to do with his life. Lee is like a horse-track gambler, who is always looking for the inside info. We see him getting into the same repetitious relationship one after the other with Nicole Oliver (Melanie Griffith), Bonnie (Famke Janssen), a supermodel (Charlize Theron), and Nola (Winona Ryder). The love is fleeting and at the end we see that Lee was just using them to fill his need. The relationships end with the same result and we get bored easily after awhile. His wild ride with these women leads him back to where he started and even more lonely and destitute than before.
His strong need to belong causes him to suffer and send him into a turmoil that he will never get out of. Ironically, his ex-wife on the other hand meets a producer, Tony Gargella (Joe Mantegna), who turns her into a television star. Unlike Lee's relationships, Robin's relationship is prosperous, as both are in love with each other.
Allen has become one of the best American writer/director of our time. Actors and actresses die to get into his films, as they get instant recognition. Unfortunately, Celebrity isn't better than his usual material that we come to expect from him.
We live in a society where people enjoy being famous for fifthteen minutes and then fade away like newspaper print in the sun. Our society is peculiar in that the highest star and the most violent criminal, in some disturbing way can be immortalized and revered in the same way. "You can know a lot about a society from the people they choose to celebrate," quips Robin. Being a celebrity is something that you are forced into and is never a choice. Maybe that is why Allen chooses to begin and end the picture with one word, "HELP." Grade: B-
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