Edward Howard, 05/09/2007
Woody Allen's tribute to Fellini's "8 1/2" is an alternately riotous and introspective look at fame, creativity, and the search for love amidst all this craziness. Allen's character, Sandy Bates, is a famed comedy director who of late has turned to bleak dramas, alienating his fans -- certainly this is Allen's response to his own fans, who castigated him for the depressing Bergman pastiche "Interiors." The film moves fluidly between dreams, memories, fantasies, scenes from Bates' films, and the present day reality. Unlike "Interiors," there's plenty to laugh at here -- especially the Felliniesque depiction of Bates' fans with their exaggerated features -- but also some poignant meditation on mortality and the way in which love makes life worth living. The film is best summed up by two diametrically opposite moments: the hilarious scene where aliens inform Bates that they liked his "early, funny ones" best; and the gorgeous scene where Bates remembers a peaceful moment of pure love with his old girlfriend Dorrie (Charlotte Rampling).
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