Rating: Summary: Charming, Funny --- not what you expect from Woody Allen Review: When I first saw this movie advertised, I was puzzled as to what the concept was--- a musical comedy by WOODY ALLEN? I enjoy Woody Allen, but usually his movies are really crude and disgustingly sexual. But this film was a breath of fresh air. It was witty and funny--- but best of all the performances were wonderful. The concept of the movie is somewhat fuzzy, and the plot is uneventful, but that doesn't matter when you see the wonderful job Alan Alda, Goldie Hawn, Edward Norton and Drew Barrymore do to entertain you throughout the film. The camera movement is erratic at times...but the scenery of both New York, Venice, and Paris is dazzling. The music and the singing performances are--- uniquely done... but very endearing. You should watch this movie if you like simple, charming, witty and slow-paced films. Not a lot of thinking or intelligence is required to watch this movie, and thats the best part. This film is a no-brainer, and many will enjoy this wonderfully acted movie.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful, feel-good production Review: Hats off to Woody Allen for making a musical film. Wonderful feel-good production will leave you all smiles! Beautifully photographed. Makes you want to get on the next flight to Venice and Paris! Brilliantly cast. Excellent acting all around. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: everyone should watch this movie.. Review: Even though I do not know too much of Woody Alen movies, I truly enjoyed this film. I really enjoyed every moment! I found myself smiling at the screen, and laughing at certain moments. I really enjoyed all of the musical numbers, and I am sure you would as well. Each musical number is put together wonderfully; the singing and dancing really are great to listen to and watch. The two numbers which stood out to me the most are when Woody Allen and Goldie Hawn are dancing together and also when Edward Norton is at the jewelery store.. just wait and you'll see! It really is a great movie to watch. I know I wouldn't mind watching it again! You can get confy and cozy and even watch it with the one you love.
Rating: Summary: Woody in over his head Review: Awkward mix of New York neuroticism and bad production numbers. Allen's propensity for making these characters such cardboard figures makes you wonder whether he truly LIKES the musical genre. Add to that the sheer chutzpah of teaming himself up romantically with Julia Roberts (AS IF!), and you've got one half-baked pastry. Skip it.
Rating: Summary: Above Par Review: All in all a brave concept, Allen manaages to pull it off somewhat. Unfortunately, the song and dance numbers seemed too numerous to allow the plot to move efficiently. Whenever the film needed to get on with the story, it would pause for a song break. Adding to the problems, Allen's screen partner Natasha Lyonne, who plays DJ, is not quite up to the challenge. I constantly found myself watching Natasha instead of DJ, and that spells trouble. Without plausible surroundings, one ends up realizing that they're watching Woody Allen instead of Joe, and that spells disaster. Still, the supporting performances were fine for the most part (especially Tim Roth and Alan Alda), and one must admire Allen for reaching back for a slice of a simpler, happier time. All in all, recommmendable, but certainly not among Allen's finer works.
Rating: Summary: I love you Me neither Review: Woody Allen strikes again with his kind of double-tongue-in-the-cheek humor. Love is nothing but a failing hunt away from the real object of that love. Man is not able to see his happiness in his own nest and tries to get it from the other side of the road where the grass is always greener. It is funny political satire at times, but it is light and musical and the depth of the story is hard to find on the Paris embankments that have been cleaned of their homeless and begging individuals for the occasion. Even Venice has clean water in its canals and no mud. So what will happen ? Nothing really except going back to the old stables and finding out that our stall is taken and that we cannot share it really with the new occupant. Some kind of light fable for some festive evening with the help of some friends and a bottle of champagne, if you can afford it, or them. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Universites of Paris IX and II
Rating: Summary: Much Better Than Expected Review: I think the words "Woody Allen" and "musical" associate about as well as "Louis Farrakhan" and "rabbinical student", but I'm pleasantly surprised at how good the film is. Not that Woody doesn't have his moments, but sometime you have to question his judgement (anyone remember Shadows And Fog?) One thing about him that I do admire is his desire to try anything at least once, so in retrospect his attempt at a musical is not all that unusual.One reason the film works as it does is that it simultaneously combines the ultimate inherent silliness of musicals (since most of us don't break out into song and dance while we're walking down the street) but grounds it in reality by not using people who are known for their singing, and quite honestly never will be. It's almost like Woody is saying that it's okay to break out into song and dance while you're walking down the street, but don't be surprised if you're not Gene Kelly. The performances are all good, although some of the characters remain underdeveloped. The two standouts are Edward Norton, who shows that he can carry himself quite competently in his performance of "Just You, Just Me", and Tim Roth who is just good in everything he does (Tim Roth in a Woody Allen movie? Am I dreaming?) The comedy is pieced together, but generally very effective. The number in the funeral home harks back to the original Woody Allen lunacy, and I thought the performance of "Hooray for Captain Spalding" in French was one of the all time great scenes that Woody has ever concocted. Although it's not a groundbreaker, the fact that all these songs were not written specifically for this film shows that Woody has an impeccable knowledge of the old music catalogs and knows how to use them effectively. The characters that Woody Allen plays himself are usually victims of the Woody Allen persona, meaning that while they appear to be the same on the surface, they actually go much deeper than one viewing can show. The best part of the DVD is being able to dial up those scenes that amuse you and view them by themselves for a quick pick-me-up. Although a step down from Bullets Over Broadway or Mighty Aphrodite, Everyone Says I Love You certainly stands up to later Woody efforts like Deconstructing Harry and Celebrity.
Rating: Summary: Cheesy and frothy, quite the cup of joe Review: Okay, call me crazy, but I enjoyed this movie. Yes it was cheesy. Yes Manhattan surely doesn't really look like that, and yes the dance scenes were stupid. But that's the whole point. Woody Allen has always been an exploring sort of director and in this one, he explores the realm of musical, which became old news by the late 70's. But still, this movie is worth a look, especially if you're a fan of movies like 'Singing in the Rain' and 'My Fair Lady'. What really suprised me was that the actors (most of them anyway) had good singing voices. I wasn't suprised really that Goldie Hawn could belt a tune like the rest of them, but Edward Norton? The guy is notorious for the meaty roles like in 'Primal Fear' and 'Fight Club'. But he's got a wonderful singing voice. As does Natasha Lyonne, and whomever sung for Drew Barrymore. The only ones I wasn't wild about were Woody Allen's (sorry buddy) and Julia Roberts (love ya, call me when you aren't doing a romantic comedy). But that comes with the territory. The premise is that the narrator is a rich girl who can't make up her mind about romance. Her name is DJ (played by Natasha Lyonne, for a better movie starring her I suggest you rent 'Slums of Beverly Hills'). She has a sister named Skylar (played by Drew Barrymore) who is engaged to Holden (played by the adorably bumbling Edward Norton). Her biological father is Woody Allen and he is currently residing in Paris. Her mother is Goldie Hawn, who got remarried to Alan Alda. From a previous marriage he has two daughters (played by Gaby Hoffman and Natalie Portman) and a son (played by Lucas Haas). Despite the somewhat confusing start, the movie flows eloquently and you even find yourself enjoying the cheesy dancing. Overall, it's a pretty good movie, and some of these actors should consider signing up with Virgin Records!
Rating: Summary: Living in the midrange Review: This film has only one really funny scene in it. The "everyone sings" gag just doesn't work. Lucky for Allen he can keep doing a movie a year and lose money 80 per cent of the time. This one has an army of "names" in the cast, which is a growing trend in Woody's films. This one is a rental at best I think, particularly since it's $9 more than "Manhattan".
Rating: Summary: Everyone, Including Me Review: In Woody Allen's film Everyone Says I Love You, one of the century's great filmmakers gets to make his own dream come true. Just take a listen to the soundtracks for Manhattan or Radio Days and you realize that all the Woodman's ever wanted to do was make a musical. He's finally found a way. And by taking those timeless songs of Gershwin and Porter and placing them in the context of modern family life, Allen has created one of his most innovative comedies ever. By its very nature, musicals showcase fabulous singers who are able to stop the world and belt out a tune. Not exactly in the realm of the possible. But by filling his scenery with non-singers, or actors who aren't known for their singing, Allen creates the possibility of song in everyday real life. Take Holden (Edward Norton), for example. What he lacks in fashion sense, he makes up for in heart. When he goes to buy a rock for his lady love Skylar (Drew Barrymore), the jewelry store becomes a Gene Kelly musical, except Holden's no hoofer. He stumbles awkwardly through the dance number while the jewelry store employees play to the camera. If it sounds fun, it is. But the two young lovebirds are but a minor diversion. Skylar's mom Steffi and husband Bob (Goldie Hawn and Alan Alda) are trying to keep their family together. Grandpa's gone daffy, their teenage son has up and joined the young Republican's (ick!), and Goldie's ex, Joe (Allen), is living in Paris and wooing an art historian (Julia Roberts). Even the worst singing, that of Allen (a mouse squeak) and Roberts (can you say tone deaf?), works somehow. In Everyone Says I Love You the commonplace collides with the extraordinary in an alternate universe that's just this side of heaven.
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