Celebrity
1998
Woody Allen's star-studded CELEBRITY skewers America's fascination with fame and glamour. Kenneth Branagh stars as Lee Simon, a travel writer who also interviews celebrities when he's not working on his novel and screenplay--or at least talking about writing them. As he hangs out more and more with supermodels and actresses, .. Read more
| Starring | Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Hank Azaria, Leonardo DiCaprio |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Genres | Comedy |
loading...
Celebrity
Woody Allen's star-studded CELEBRITY skewers America's fascination with fame and glamour. Kenneth Branagh stars as Lee Simon, a travel writer who also interviews celebrities when he's not working on his novel and screenplay--or at least talking about writing them. As he hangs out more and more with supermodels and actresses, living the so-called good life, he ends his 16-year marriage to Robin (the marvelous Judy Davis). The split nearly sends Robin off the deep end until she meets Joe Gardella (Joe Mantegna), a television producer who introduces her to a whole new world.
Allen shoots the film in black-and-white as if to take some of the gleam off the lives of these celebrities, many of whom are famous for just being famous. When Robin starts working for Joe, she is responsible for overseeing the talent--the kind of people who regularly appear on such shows as JERRY SPRINGER, looking for their moment in the spotlight. Even a television preacher has religious groupies who yearn for autographs. It is interesting to note that Allen wrote and directed CELEBRITY at a time when his own fame was reaching a crescendo because of his own personal problems, which became so much tabloid fodder; that is perhaps why he does not appear in the film, instead having Branagh speak the offbeat, cynical, funny lines that the Woodman himself usually delivers.
| Starring | Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Hank Azaria, Leonardo DiCaprio, Melanie Griffith, Famke Janssen, Michael Lerner, Winona Ryder, Charlize Theron, Andre Gregory, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth, Gretchen Mol, Dylan Baker, Isaac Mizrahi, Greg Mottola |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 49 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 15 Jun 2006 Production year: 1998 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (6)
View all -
After having his own private life splashed all over the tabloids for the last few years, writer/director Woody Allen now uses his own cameras to probe the nature of celebrity. Kenneth Branagh steps up to play the Allen-esque “Ordinary Joe” who finds himself mixing with supermodels (Charlize Theron), spoiled stars (Leonardo DiCaprio) and oversexed actresses (Melanie Griffith), while his ex-wife (Judy Davis) tries to find her own identity as a TV presenter. While not vintage Allen, this black-and-white amusement has some choice moments — notably hooker Bebe Neuwirth teaching Davis how to improve her sexual skills — and some fun tongue-in-cheek performances (check out DiCaprio trying to tempt Branagh into group sex). Forgettable, and not as clever as it wants to be, perhaps, but witty on occasions nonetheless.
-
With the neurotic centre of energy being occupied by both Branagh and Davis, Allen's on-screen presence is much missed here, while on the other side of the camera he recycles his usual attitudes to relationships without much apparent enthusiasm but with t
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Dire Woody Allen film
Did you know that lots of celebrities are shallow and self-obsessed? And apparently people will do anything to be famous. These are just two of the startling revelations in Woody Allen's dismally unfunny 'Celebrity'.
'Deconstructing Harry' may have been spiteful and self-indulgent, but it had serious points to make about the artistic process and was imaginatively put together. 'Celebrity' just seems like a load of off-cuts and ideas from other Allen movies thrown together in the hope of forming a script. Unsuprisingly it never gels and Allen just blunders from one half-baked scene to another.
And then there's the Kenneth Branagh problem. He seems to think that appearing as the lead in a Woody Allen film means you have to play Woody Allen. He copies Allens mannerisms and speech rythms completely and becomes unbearable after five minutes. Why did Branagh do this? Why did Allen let him? And why didn't Allen just play the role himself?
Judy Davis and Leonardo Di Caprio emerge with reputations intact, both giving excellent performances. But too many jokes fall flat and Allen's toothless satire winds up being every bit as shallow and vacuous as the people he targets. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Woody Back On Form
It’s a testament to Allen’s ‘personal’ problems that 'Celebrity' slipped by almost unnoticed in the UK at the end of the 90’s. For this is one of his strongest films of the decade, beautifully structured, brimming with wit and insight and boasting a truly stellar cast.
The story focuses on the marriage break up of struggling writer & wannabe (Kenneth Branagh) and frumpy teacher (Judy Davis) and what happens in their separate lives afterwards. Branagh stumbles through a series of shallow encounters, both professional and romantic, all of which are sabotaged by his own self-obsession or that of the people he meets (Leonard di Caprio, Meg Ryan, Wynona Ryder, an excellent Charlize Theron). Ironically it is Davis who finds fame, as the host of a vapid TV show produced by her loving new husband (Joe Mantegna).
The only weakness here is Branagh who opts to present an impersonation of Allen, rather than a performance of his own. Although this won’t convince any doubters, this confirms Allen’s late 90's renaissance as a moviemaker and is sure to be a treat for fans of his work. -
News and features
View all
Paisley & Quinto team up for Nashville drama
- 19 Oct 2009
Country star Brad Paisley and Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto have joined forces to produce a new TV drama set in Nashville, Tennessee. The odd couple created the show with writers Neal Dodson and Matt Bomer and now the project has been picked up by U.S. TV network CW. A press release about the drama suggests the new series will focus on "an aspiring young female singer destined for stardom and a male songwriter whose career isn't as certain." The show is scheduled to debut next year (10).... Read more
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
Leonardo DiCaprio's Favourite Films (7)
78.6% from 28 members
