Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

 I think deep down even the most pessimistic of us out there would like to believe there's some magic left in the world. The important question is, how far are you willing to go to let yourself be completely immersed in it. In the latest Woody Allen film, he explores how love can affect even the most cynical of us. Colin Firth plays a famous magician with the speciality of debunking fake mystics. When he is asked by a close friend to help him debunk a young American girl (played by Emma Stone) who is about to swindle a wealthy family of their fortune, he agrees to prove that there is no such thing as real magic in the world. His interactions with the young, beautiful American makes him question his dark view of the world and makes him wonder whether there is some magic in the world after all.

IMDB-6.9/10
Metascore- 54/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 50% Audience- 56%
Yong's Rating- 3/5 Stars.

Blue Jasmine (2013)

Woody Allen's 'Blue Jasmine' is a look into a woman at her ends. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) has lost everything. We are introduced to a woman who has lost her youth, family, fortune, and reputation. And by looks of everything, her sanity is not close behind. When Jasmine's life comes crumpling down on the east coast, she moves to the west coast to start over with the help of her sister (Sally Hawkins). It's not an easy transition for a New York socialite to get accumulated to the lower middle class life style in San Francisco.
'Blue Jasmine' showcases Cate Blanchett's powerful performance with her portrayal of Jasmine. It's sure to get her several nominations come awards season. The side storyline of Jasmine's sister, Ginger is worth noting, but did not really capture my attention. As a film on a whole, its ideas have been examined in many of Woody's other films. 'Another Woman', 'September', and 'Alice' come to mind. All portray a high class woman dealing with self identify and a life crisis. 'Blue Jasmine' may have some lighter moments, but it is one of Woody's darker film. Don't expect to watch this to get that warm happy feeling. I will admit, I didn't think this was one of Woody's better movies, but as with any Woody Allen movie, there's always something there worth watching for.

IMDB-7.8/10
Metascore- 78/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-91% Audience-83%
Yong's Rating- 2.5/5 stars

To Rome With Love (2012)

'To Rome with Love' is Woody Allen's latest romantic comedy. It continues Woody's recent trend of filming in Europe. Set in the romantic city of Rome, the film tells the stories of an eclectic group of people brought together by the magical city. The ensemble cast features notable actors like Judy Davis, Roberto Benigni, Alison Pill, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, Penelope Cruz, and the return of Woody Allen. And as with any Woody movie, the city itself becomes one of the characters. Each of the stories feature light hearted fun mixed with romance, drama, and philosophical thoughts explored in many of Allen's films. While 'To Rome with Love' may not be one of Allen's better films, it's something his fans would definitely enjoy, especially seeing him back on the big screen.





IMDB- 6.5/10
Metascore- 55/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 45% Audience- 49%
Yong's Rating- 3/5 stars

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

'Deconstructing Harry' is one of Woody Allen's more darker comedies. It tells the story of Harry Block (played by Woody), a successful writer experiencing his first writer's block. Burdened with failed relationships, financial troubles, depression, and slight addiction to pills and prostitutes, a case of writer's block seems like the least of his worries. When his former college invites him to be honored for his works, Harry plans a road trip to his old school. The trip serves as a reflection into his past as characters from his novels and people from his own memories intertwine. It's obvious that Woody got the main idea for this film from 'Wild Strawberries'. Will Harry's trip lead him to profound insights into his life as it did for Dr. Borg? Well, I guess you just have to see to find out.


IMDB- 7.3/10
Metascore- 61/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 71% Audience-79%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 Stars

Midnight in Paris (2011)

'Midnight in Paris' is the latest Woody Allen flick featuring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. This may be one of his most commercially successful film in years. Mr. Allen continues his recent trend of filming away from his home base in New York City. Set in Paris, 'Midnight in Paris' starts with a gorgeous ode to the beauty of the romantic city. Woody Allen just has a way of making any city a part of his cast of characters. You could definitely see the love affair he has with Paris, it almost felt like he was cheating on New York City.

Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams play a newly engaged couple away on a vacation in Paris. Gil (Wilson) is infatuated with the city and has fantasies of moving to the city and writing. His fiancé is set on living the suburban life in Hollywood and doesn't understand what is so great about Paris. Gil is a romantic who longs for the simpler times of the past and wishes he was born in a different era. He is in love with the 1920's and walking around the city in rain. When Gil wonders off one night to just walk the beautiful city and clear his mind, a little loss of sense of direction leads to a life changing adventure. Without giving away too much of the storyline, 'Midnight in Paris' mixes in elements of fantasy and romance that is sure to delight and seduce the viewers. It was reminiscent of 'Purple Rose of Cairo' and to some degree 'Stardust Memories'. I believe this is one of his better movies in recent years. Owen Wilson played the 'Woody Allen character' very well and seemed like a natural for the part.

I found myself enjoying this movie very much. I couldn't help smiling the whole way through. I just loved how beautiful the city looked on the screen as well as the performances of the wonderful cast. It is a terrific mixture of charm, fantasy, romance, and comedy. Go see for yourself.

IMDB-7.9/10

Metascore- 81/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-92%, Audience-77%

Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Favorite Woody Allen Scenes

If you follow my blog, you probably figured Woody Allen is one of my favorite directors. I've compiled some of my favorite scenes from his movies that I could find on youtube, mostly so I have to place to watch them when I want to. If you happen to be a Woody Allen fan too, hope you enjoy them.

Opening Scene from 'Manhattan'- Allen's ode to the city he loves. One of my favorite opening scenes.



Contemplating why life is worth living from 'Manhattan'



Hell Scene from 'Deconstructing Harry'



Cello Scene from 'Take the Money and Run'



Sunday morning scene from 'Stardust Memories'



Suicide attempt scene from 'Hannah and Her Sisters'


Date scene from "Everything you always wanted to know about sex...'



Movie line scene from 'Annie Hall'



Dance Scene from 'Everyone Says I Love You'- my favorite scene.


Universe talk scene from 'September'

Zelig (1983)

Deep down inside we all want to be liked, to feel accepted as a part of a group, to fit in. Let's say you find yourself with a group of people talking about the latest box office hit. They express just how much they loved all the fast paced action and the graphics. You go on to agree with them and express how much you loved the graphics as well. Next day, you find yourself with another group of people discussing the same movie. Only this time, they are talking about just how terrible the movie was. "No substance, just big explosions," they say. You go on to agree with them and say how tired you are of these big hollywood movies with no real substance. More often then not, most of us tend to let the majority sway our opinions.

In "Zelig", Woody Allen takes the simple human desire of wanting to be liked to the extreme. Set during the 1920's, "Zelig" is a mock documentary examining a man named Leonard Zelig (played by Allen). His desire to be liked is so great that he develops a condition which allows him to transform himself into whoever he is talking to. Surround him with group of Chinese men, he'll start to develop oriental features. Surround him with group with black jazz musicians, he'll soon start to develop darker complexion and even play some jazz. You see the pattern.
Zelig soon gains national attention as the "Human Chameleon." Doctors take him into custody to study the strange phenomenon. Zelig surprises the doctors by transforming himself to blend in with any group of people he is presented with. Doctors see him as nothing but a study subject and his family sees him only as a chance to make a profit. Only Dr. Fletcher (played by Mia Farrow) develops a personal attachment to him and truly wants to help him fix his problem. Dr. Fletcher makes it her personal professional duty to diagnose and help treat Zelig. To cure him of his disorder. She teaches him to think and stand up for himself. In the process, the two develop strong feelings for each other.

Woody Allen has never been known for using technology or special effects in his films. But it is worth noting that "Zelig" is definitely his finest technical film. The footages, music, and the actors all looked like they belonged to the era. I really enjoyed the use of documentary style to film this movie. Using real people as actors also added that authentic documentary atmosphere. As always, there's plenty of quick funny one-liners spread throughout the movie. "Zelig" is an unique movie that really surprised me the first time I saw it simply because I haven't seen anything like it before. I urge you to check it out for yourself sometime and I give it my highest recommendation. Let me know what you think.

IMDB- 7.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-100%, Audience-86%

Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)*

There are certain movies I always like to watch during the holiday season. I'm going to review some of those movies in the next few week. I'm starting off with Hannah and Her Sisters, written and directed by Woody Allen. I believe that Hannah and Her Sisters represents Mr. Allen at the top of his game. The writing, cast, acting, music, and cinematography are all excellent. It is the perfect combination of comedy, drama, and intellect. The film is composed of series of vignettes surrounding a group of characters. It flows effortlessly, thanks to the brilliant screenplay, perhaps Allen's finest.

There is Hannah and her sisters, played by Mia Farrow (Hannah) , Dianne Wiest (Holly), and Barbara Hershey (Lee). The relationship between the three sisters is much more complex than it seems at the beginning and as the film progresses the nature of the complexity is explored. Michael Caine plays Mia Farrow's husband, a glorified accountant who lusts after his wife's sister, Lee. Woody Allen plays Mickey, who is Hannah's ex-husband. He is semi-successful television producer. Allen plays the character that he has perfected, a nervous, neurotic hypochondriac. After having to face his own morality, he goes on a search for the meaning of life. It was his search for answers for a reason to continue living through books and religions that I found most interesting and entertaining. And in the end maybe he does find some closure just as he suggests in the movie, "Maybe the poets are right, maybe love is the only answer."

If you are only going to watch one Woody Allen movie, then I highly suggest you make it this one.

IMDB- 8.0/10

Rotten tomatoes- Critics- 93% audience-88%

Yong's rating- 10/10 (must see)

*(one of 1001 movies you must see before you die)

Everyone Says I Love You (1996)

Do you have a movie you like to watch whenever you are having a bad day or a week to help cheer you up? For me that movie is Everyone Says I Love You. Watching this musical romantic comedy about a quirky upper class New York family always has a way of brightening my mood. This is one of those special movies that I can watch over and over again and it makes me smile every time. The dance scene under the bridge by the moonlight is one of my favorite movie scenes of all time, it's just magical. I think that's what draws me to movies so much, it's for those magical scenes and moments in films that just grabs you and makes you forget about all your troubles even for just a few minutes or even seconds. So, what movies do you like to watch to cheer up?

IMDB-6.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 78%, audience -63%

Yong's Rating- 10/10 (must see)

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is Woody Allen's newest work, which centers around a dysfunctional family looking for love and happiness in all the wrong places. As a typical Woody film, the cast is excellent. It features top actors like Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Lucy Punch, Freida Pinto and Antonio Banderas. This movie touches on themes all familiar in other Woody Allen movies, yet there isn't that special magic to make it stand out among his best works.

The movie starts out as we watch an older woman (Gemma Jones) heartbroken and lost after her husband (Hopkins) dumped her after 40 years of marriage, because suddenly she has gotten too old for him. Then, there is her daughter (Naomi Watts), who wants nothing more than to start a family and have a successful career. Her plans, however are stymied by financial troubles due to her struggling writer husband (Josh Brolin). All the characters in this movie, desperately seek out their passions and happiness through any means they see fit. Whether they be spiritual, magic, lust, adultery, or even deceit. Whatever they see is necessary to bring them happiness. The narrator states this Shakespeare quote at the beginning of this movie,

"It is a tale told by an idiot,full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

And as this quote suggests, it seems no matter how hard these characters struggled to change their fortunes, in the end, none of it really matter much at all. Even though this isn't one of Woody's best work, I still found it refreshing and it kept me interested throughout the movie. If you are a Woody Allen fan like me, then I think you can expect a good time at the movies.

IMDB-6.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-48% Community-39%

Yong's Rating-7/10 (worth a look)