Tuesday, February 22, 2011

“You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger”

As a longtime fan of Woody Allen’s I looked forward to the DVD release of his latest film, “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger.”

But what a disappointment. After creating fascinating problems confronting the characters, the film abruptly stops.

For example:

*Does Naomi Watte’s character get the financing from her mother for the art gallery she so desperately wants? We never know.

*Does Brogan’s character get caught for stealing another writer’s work? We never know.

*Does Anthony Hopkins’ character find out if the baby is his? We never know. *Does he dump his call-girl wife who is tormenting him? We never know.

*Does the real writer of the stolen book stay in a coma or recover? we never know.

No other writer could get away with such lazy plotting.

I miss the creator of  the brilliant morality tale, Crimes & Misdemeaners. Annie Hall, who in Allen’s hands became nothing less than a culture-icon. Match Point, the dazzling rendition of the random, absurd power of luck.

What happened to our Woody? Getting old? Too much psychoanalysis?

His young wife wearing him out?