There's nothing like a good period piece. To be transported back in time to a bygone era is a feat that many a director has tried and failed, however when a filmmaker truly captures the essence of a long ago age the result is cinematic magic.
No stranger to costume drama, Woody Allen once again dazzles with his latest yearly effort CAFE SOCIETY. Instead of 1920's/40's New York or Paris, this time the tireless director has set his sights on the Hollywood heyday of the 30's. In classic Allen form, the story revolves around a young man, Bobby, from the Bronx who relocates to Hollywood in hopes of finding work with his long lost uncle/agent/impresario Phil. When Uncle Phil finally gets around to meeting with his sweetly naive nephew, he puts him to work as his assistant and asks one of his secretaries, Vonnie, to show him the town. It's no big surprise that Bobby soon falls for the beautiful, independent-minded Vonnie, but little does our protagonist know that he is the third point in a most unexpected love triangle. Soon, Bobby heads back to the east coast where he joins his brother in the nightclub business, and the rest of his love story plays out in a wonderfully original and bittersweet way.
Jesse Eisenberg- taking the reigns as the Woody Allen proxy- is absolutely pitch perfect as the self deprecating neurotic character we have all become familiar with in Allen's films. Eisenberg manages to use this template and totally expand upon it with eager naivety early in the film and more worldly bravado later on.
As the beauty at the crux of the love triangle, Kristen Stewart as Vonnie sadly didn't quite capture the angst I feel Allen was going for. While she is no doubt easy on the eyes, her performance just didn't have the charisma I would expect of a woman so adored by two men at once. Additionally, she also just didn't seem to be "of the era" like her counterparts. All the bobby socks and vintage frocks in the world just couldn't make me see her as the young ingenue in old Hollywood. I like Kristen Stewart a lot, but this role felt off for her and her understated brand of acting lacked the charm I wished to see onscreen.
Steve Carell as Uncle Phil plays it completely straight as the name-dropping big man on campus. His no nonsense portrayal of an early Hollywood player feels just right, even when it is revealed that his confident, cut throat character is conflicted as well.
Aside from the melodrama, CAFE SOCIETY is a delicious slice of old school glam. Incredible art deco set design and glorious period costuming perfectly set the tone and context of the 30's era. Fans of old Hollywood will revel in the constant references to Judy, Errol, and just about every other big name you can think of. While some of this may be over the heads of most mainstream audiences, those in the know will delight in stepping back into a time when all of these legends were a going concern. CAFE SOCIETY would make a great double feature with the Coens' HAIL CAESAR, another beautiful ode to this iconic period of cinematic history.
Overall, CAFE SOCIETY hits all the marks and the final product is quite lovely. Woody Allen has delivered another bittersweet romance that is poignant without being sappy all wrapped up in a gorgeous homage to 1930's Hollywood.
Rebecca Elliott
aka Annette Kellerman
