Café Society (2016)

Waste of time

So much average

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Cafe Society is the first film with Woody Allen associated with it I've seen unless you count Antz and he is fantastic with the offbeat comedy and drama. It follows a young man named Bobby (Jessie Eisenberg) as he moves to Hollywood to get a job from his uncle (Steve Carell) who is a Hollywood producer and falls in love with Veronica "Vonnie" (Kristen Stewart) as he slowly gets more connections and rises to more importance. The film is funny and upbeat with an excellent 30's jazz filed soundtrack, great performances, and hilarious bits thrown in amongst a slightly boring and predictable but well directed and acted period piece comedy about showbiz. 8.5/10

This is a great movie. Far better than I expected; I'm not the biggest fan of movies set in the past, though. It's a great mix between drama and comedy, I would definitely buy this on DVD if I should find it. But I just don't get why it's taking place in the 1930's, in my opinion the movie would be just as good if it took place in out time. And, again in my opinion, I feel that Steve Carrell is slightly miscast in that role, I'd prefer someone like John C. McGinley or someone like that instead. But otherwise it's a great movie. I'd give it 80%, or 8/10.

It's a Sad Thing, Growing Old, even when it is Relatively Painless. Our Heroes, or People We Greatly Admire Grow Old in a Spotlight. Fat Elvis, Mickey Mantle bringing His Lifetime Batting Average Below 300 because He Played so Ineffectually a couple of Seasons too long, just to Illustrate.Woody Allen hasn't quite reached the Embarrassing Stage of Old Age, but the Signs are Signaling. Example, His usually Snappy, but Droll Narration is Audibly Atrophied. He just Sounds Old and Power Drained.Also, the Recycling of Plot and People from Previous Works are Intruding Frequently in His Late Year Mediocrities. Allen may not be Obese like Elvis, and His Batting Average is Still Better than His Peers, but Life Expectancies Expect their Due. Here's Hope that Woody has the Wit and Inclination to Know when to give Us His Swan Song and Retire with Dignified Reluctance.Woody Allen probably has at least One or Two Tricks remaining to work His Magic and Entertain His Legion of Admirers and Confound His Many Critics. Even Mickey Mantle Hit a Few Home Runs in those Subpar Seasons just before Hanging Up His Spikes.Swing for the Fences Woody so We can Watch that Home Run Trot once more. This isn't a Bad Film, its just too Mediocre for a Genius Superstar.

Cafe Society is a term used to describe an elite (shallow) group of wealthy and/or famous people who participate in social activities that are unreachable to ordinary people. This film mainly centers around (1) early Hollywood and (2) the main character's dysfunctional family.The leading actor is not a convincing innocent & all the characters have a debased & distorted view of personal morality.Unfortunately this movie provides clear evidence of anti-Christian bias on the part of the filmmakers.The mockery & derision of Christianity seems to be the prevalent norm among films being released by Hollywood,there are virtually no films with positive Christian portrayals.The protagonists brother Ben commits a murder and is given a sentence of capital punishment for his crimes,he converts to Christianity for its promise of an everlasting life after death. In the scene where the characters are discussing his decision and the concept of heaven, his Jewish mother states: "First a murderer then a Christian? What did I do to deserve this"Blasphemous Posturing & Hostility Masquerading As Humour. The film industry in the USA have normalized what was once considered deviant and are defining as deviant what was once considered normal.Lower standards and moral relativism are promoted by movies like this. Deviant and normal have officially swapped places when it is acceptable humour to put Christians on a par with murderers