The gimmick is a group of friends sit in a bar and tell stories about theatrical agent Danny Rose (Woody Allen), whose discoveries always leave him as soon as he makes them famous. Danny Rose is a pathetic figure, but a very likeable one. The main story they tell is his relationship with past-his-time singer Lou Canova.
This is another one of those pictures where Woody has used black and white to both recall an old world and convince us this is classic material. He did the same thing with Manhattan. This picture is less self-conscious than Manhattan, and its performances are better, but its still very measured.
It lacks narrative drive, and starts stretching out and meandering at the one hour mark. This is not one of Woody's best pictures. Its not as fun as Manhattan Murder Mystery, not as cohesive as Husbands and Wives, not as beautiful as Manhattan, not as memorable as Annie Hall.
But Danny Rose is a good character, and ex-matinee idol Lou is a wonderful character. I'd recommend you see this movie to aquaint yourself with Lou, one of Woody's best and most memorable characters.
6/10.
This is another one of those pictures where Woody has used black and white to both recall an old world and convince us this is classic material. He did the same thing with Manhattan. This picture is less self-conscious than Manhattan, and its performances are better, but its still very measured.
It lacks narrative drive, and starts stretching out and meandering at the one hour mark. This is not one of Woody's best pictures. Its not as fun as Manhattan Murder Mystery, not as cohesive as Husbands and Wives, not as beautiful as Manhattan, not as memorable as Annie Hall.
But Danny Rose is a good character, and ex-matinee idol Lou is a wonderful character. I'd recommend you see this movie to aquaint yourself with Lou, one of Woody's best and most memorable characters.
6/10.