Radio Days comes across as perhaps the most autobiographical of Woody Allen's films. It recalls fondly the period in time when the radio ruled supreme as the great communicator and entertainment medium in people's lives. Allen looks at various aspects of this through the eyes of a working class Jewish New York family. The story is essentially made up by a number of small of vignettes. In these short pieces Allen looks at various radio-related stories such as real events like Orson Welles' famous War of the Worlds broadcast, to fictional stories like the little girl in the well news item that shows how the radio could bind communities together in times of tragedy. As should also be expected, much of the observations are comic too, such as the fact that the popular radio super-hero of the day is in reality a short unassuming bald man.
It's very much an ensemble piece with the usual good characterizations we have come to expect from Allen. And while I think it is a good film, it isn't amongst his strongest work in my opinion. The main problem being that it's overall a little too fragmented for any characters to really stand out. I don't mind it being relatively plot-less but we never spend enough time with individual people in order to get a handle on them or really to care enough for them. Still, it's a very loving recreation of a period in time close to its director's heart. And this does come across quite clearly. Radio Days is not essential Allen for me but still a pretty solid bit of work with some heart to it.
It's very much an ensemble piece with the usual good characterizations we have come to expect from Allen. And while I think it is a good film, it isn't amongst his strongest work in my opinion. The main problem being that it's overall a little too fragmented for any characters to really stand out. I don't mind it being relatively plot-less but we never spend enough time with individual people in order to get a handle on them or really to care enough for them. Still, it's a very loving recreation of a period in time close to its director's heart. And this does come across quite clearly. Radio Days is not essential Allen for me but still a pretty solid bit of work with some heart to it.