If you separate Woody Allen’s filmography from his life and relationships with women, I’ve often wondered why more people don’t talk about how many bad films he’s made over the years. Film critics and professionals only talk about the “good” Woody Allen movies, like Annie Hall, Manhattan, Bullets Over Broadway, maybe Blue Jasmine. But people rarely talk about all of his bad movies, with bad scripts and bad performances and actors horribly miscast and… just, films that shouldn’t have been made. I get the feeling that Woody’s 2017 release is going to be one of those “bad ones” that gets largely ignored.
The film is Wonder Wheel, and it stars Justin Timberlake, Kate Winslet, Jim Belushi and Juno Temple. It’s set in 1950s Coney Island. I think this Woody’s first film in collaboration with Amazon Studios. Woody cut a deal with Amazon a few years ago and the deal not only includes movies, but a TV/streaming project. Anyway, this film looks God awful. Seriously. Justin Timberlake is doing a really weird, hokey New-Yawk accent. Kate’s wig is tragic. Juno Temple seems… like an odd choice? So does Kate. So does Timberlake. So messy.
Kate’s already made some noise about how this was one of the best experiences she’s had an actress and the role was so “challenging” and now that I’m seeing it, I just think… really? It’s so obvious that she wants this to be her Blue Jasmine, like when Cate Blanchett swept all of the Best Actress awards a few years ago for that role. What do you think? Will Winslet get nominated for ANYTHING? I suspect not, but who knows. Winslet’s actually great at Oscar-campaigning, so anything is possible. As for Justin Timberlake… lol, how can such a charismatic musical performer be such a charisma vacuum on film? Dear JT: you cannot act. Please stop trying.
Photos courtesy of Amazon, WENN.
Ugh Woody Allen. I admit I enjoy some of his movies, but he never get my $ again.
I cannot stand Justin. Ugh again
Nor will Kate Winslet
I am proud to say I’ve never seen a woody allen movie in my entire life because child molestation aside, I don’t give a sh*t about the stories he tells. They seem so out of touch and boring.
Same here. I haven’t seen any, and have no intention of starting now. He’s just too creepy a person for my liking. Plus, I won’t watch anything with JT in it. Sorry!
Hate to say it @Kaiser but early buzz on this is fabulous, particularly for a nomination for Winslet and the cinematography. And Timberlake gets to come along for the award season ride! Oh joy! 🙄
Joy! http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/elnb.gif
JT looks hilariously bad there.
I’m so disgusted with Winslet for doing an Allen movie.
ditto
Its movies like this that look like they are going to be awful that clean up at the awards.
JT and Kate Winslet….has there ever been two people more consistently willing to ignore women being wronged to further their career?
nailed it
Please elaborate on Kate Winslet…
So looking forward to this!
I have to admit that I really love The Purple Rose of Cairo, Annie Hall and Zelig. They’re wonderful films. However, I remember watching Vicky Barcelona whatever-the-name-was and thinking that it made him look like a pervert. Since then, I was never interested. I did watch Blue Jasmine and, while it was ok, I can’t even remember a complete scene.
Skeeviness aside, he is no longer a compelling film-maker.
Agree about Allen as a film-maker now. I am not interested. I just want to add that the Allen that exists today is another creature from the director everyone loved when I was in my twenties. Back then we adored his old screwball comedies like SLEEPER and TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN. ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN, AND HANNAH AND HER SISTERS were considered masterpieces. I will be 65 soon, and I certainly understand why young people avoid his films and why it is impossible not to factor in the hideous allegations. I just wanted to remind people that he once was up there with Spielberg as America’s best loved director. As Shakespeare said. “Oh, what a falling off was there.”
I have loved Woody Allen movies since I was a kid and thought his last two were some of his best. I don’t see any decline in his abilities. I dislike Justin Timberlake in movies and wish he would go back to creating music: he’s actually good at that. But his character here looks intentionally and purposefully two dimensional, which he can pull off.
the movie looks like a big mess by watching the trailer
Justin? Just no!
Based on that trailer, movie looks like Woody Allen meets the Sopronos.
I think boycotting a critically acclaimed director in Hollywood is career suicide. It’s the only reason nobody does it. They are all fucked up on one way or another and if one actress says no to woody Allen because of accusations against him, there will always be another actress to take on the role, the Oscar that might come with hit, the huge paycheck and the publicity on their CV. Everyone looks out for themselves in Hollywood, and have bills to pay and jobs to do, and it baffles me that people can’t see or understand that.
How much say does Allen have on what scenes to use for the trailer? The last three sentences sounded like Allen ‘poking fun’ at people who, you know, “can’t let it go”. “When it comes to love, we often turn out to be our own worst enemy.” – “I know what it is you did.” – “Don’t you think you’re being a little melodramatic?”
I’m really sensitive at the moment; maybe it just happened by accident and there was no intent behind it.