It's decent but also incredibly slight. I thought it tried to do way too much and there were a lot of unnecessary storylines that didn't add anything - Corey Stoll's gangster character in particular was completely useless. But it's a light, enjoyable watch and Kristen Stewart in particular gives a strong performance. B-

Café Society is not great Woody Allen, but after several recent comedic missteps (Magic in the Moonlight, To Rome with Love), this is a thoroughly pleasant trifle that goes down easy and is an alternately sunny, melancholy comedy. Jesse Eisenberg is good as the Woody surrogate, but the film only really ever sparkles when an enchanting Kristen Stewart is on screen with him. This is one of her best performances and the camera just loves her here. I'd love to see her in another Allen film with an even juicier role. Steve Carell, who replaced Bruce Willis at the last minute, is terrific in his part, although the character is more one-note than one might expect given the screen time. Blake Lively and Corey Stoll, among others, are solid too (Lively. continuing her hot streak, manages to create someone you want to know more about than the screenplay ever gives her). Special notice should be made of Anna Camp and her one scene towards the beginning of the film, which is by far the film's funniest and snappiest. Despite some of the screenplay's flaws, I enjoyed it overall. B

Café Society is a gentle bauble that sparkles more than it ought. Not only old-fashioned in setting, but also in story. How often do we get to go to the movies and see a comedy of manners anymore? The casting as usual is inspired, including the non-schticky narrator. Yet another fine work from master filmmaker Woody Allen. *A*

Venerable writer and director Woody Allen releases a film every year. It is an incredible pace for any artist, let alone a septuagenarian who has nothing to prove, having won four Academy Awards and earned over one billion dollars (domestic) adjusted for inflation over the course of his career. This year's Allen picture is Café Society, a frothy and wistful comedy of romance in 1930s L.A. and Manhattan. Jesse Eisenberg plays a Jewish youth who moves west hoping to find a job under his uncle (Steve Carell), a powerful agent who wines and dines the brightest stars. He then falls madly in love with a colleague (Kristen Stewart), unaware she is also his uncle's lover. Among its director's oeuvre, this is not among the cream of the crop, but it is an entertaining romp with luminous cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now, The Last Emperor) and a bittersweet, dynamic ending. Eisenberg and Stewart have palpable chemistry, and Blake Lively, also impressive this summer in The Shallows, brings considerable warmth and surprising depth to her comparatively brief role as the Eisenberg character's paramour on the rebound. As is often the case with Allen's recent films, there is a sense his script could benefit from further revision and refinement: a reduction in voice-over (provided by Allen himself) here, more organic exposition there, and, wait, did he forcibly fold a few pages of an unfinished mob farce into this show-business Bildungsroman? But he satisfactorily completes his protagonist's arc and conjures several biting one-liners and thoughtful philosophical asides along the way.

B+

Thought this was very meh. Watchable but pretty paper thin story with nothing interesting going on. KStew was pretty good though.

Woody Allen is no stranger to the fight between pragmatism and idealism in a life and especially not in romance. Café Society is a quintessential Allen romance with Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg) and Vonnie (Kristen Stewart)’s expectations about their life and romantic futures having to navigate those waters.

When Bobby goes to L.A. he dreams of finding himself important among the big shots and soon adds a bigger dream of being with Vonnie. But while a rational partner in age and lifestyle for her, Vonnie follows love instead by going for Phil (Steve Carrell). Bobby eventually ends up at the center of society running his club in New York and marries a second Veronica (Blake Lively) but his heart always belonged to the first. For what love Phil gives to her Vonnie has to become the Hollywood wife she never wanted to be and is left feeling false and unfulfilled. Both end up melancholic about the road not taken, but Bobby wants what Vonnie has and Vonnie wants what Bobby has. Bobby has the dream lifestyle but not his soulmate, Vonnie has her soulmate but sacrificed her lifestyle for it.

Despite this few Allen films end with more reasons for characters to be happy. Sure Bobby didn’t get who he believes is his soulmate, but his society lifestyle, his wife Veronica and their soon to be multiple children is a lot to be thankful for. Vonnie got to feel love with Phil and her comfortable, star crossed lifestyle could be worse. Bobby and Vonnie also still have each other even if as friends. Their comfortable financial situation allows them to visit as often as they like. Between each other and their spouse each have multiple great connections in their life.

Other characters in the film don’t fare so well. A man is killed for refusing to turn his radio down. The punishment far outdid any karmic crime. Bobby’s brother Ben never feels connected to other people hence spending most of his life killing them. He can’t even believe in his religion by the end. He ends up ashes in the wind a third of the way through his life. Compared to Bobby he got none of the lifestyle, friends or romantic love.

For those who dream of meeting all their idealistic and pragmatic goals like Bobby and Vonnie one will always have to sacrifice something. But in the end they still ended up on the lucky side of fate.

https://jrodgerreviews.com/2016/08/25/c ... llen-2016/

This is very pleasant. Not too demanding but not pure fluff either. The period setting is perfect for the relatively straightforward, old-fashioned tale of love deferred and how decisions affect our lives. The cinematography is wonderful and Kristin Stewart stands out among a very solidly acted ensemble.

B+

Was a good movie. KStew really did stand out of the cast here. Eisenberg was fine as the lead.

6/10

Cafe Society

As a fan of Woody Allen I was pleased to find Cafe Society among his good films, not his bad. It is a lean, neatly-paced comedy-drama. Eisenberg gives a great Woody Allen impersonation without making it TOO obvious and/or caricatured. Kristen Stewart is unexpectedly solid. The story is great and the setting, environment, era etc. are all so addictive and charismatic.

B+

I am going to guess that you made some use of in-flight entertainment

Oh yes! Always a great way to catch up on a few recent films that I maybe would never see anyway. Stuck in a seat for 12 hours, gotta do something when I'm not asleep.