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 |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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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.
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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
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"...Allen's surest instincts about the title subject are at work in the high-profile cast....[DiCaprio ends up] juicing the movie with a welcome power surge..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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. -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
LOAD OF PISH
Biggest load of poo i've ever seen.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Not funny
Not clever, barely watchable. Don't get me wrong I like Woody Allen films. And I like Kenneth Brannagh. I just don't like Kenneth Brannagh being Woody Allen in a film made up of cameo roles without any real synergy or unity. Perhaps it is a very clever comment on the nature of celebrity but I wouldn't urge you to waste 2 hours trying to find out what it is.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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. -
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.
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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. -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
LOAD OF PISH
Biggest load of poo i've ever seen.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Not funny
Not clever, barely watchable. Don't get me wrong I like Woody Allen films. And I like Kenneth Brannagh. I just don't like Kenneth Brannagh being Woody Allen in a film made up of cameo roles without any real synergy or unity. Perhaps it is a very clever comment on the nature of celebrity but I wouldn't urge you to waste 2 hours trying to find out what it is.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
NIce for an Evening
I didn't really know how this film would be like, I had images of 54 and to a degree I was not wrong!
It grabs you from the 1st moment. mainly down the old-fashioned style credits like 'Its a Wonderful Life', but in short Celebrity is an interesting story which though not the best flows along quite well and keeps the attention.
In short, bit quirky- the B&W effect adds character to the film too, liked it would prob reccommend to others. -
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. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
not to be greatly celebrated...
This film, as all Allen's films, works as an observation of the human condition. Focusing on idiosyncrasies and the like, this film is tough to get through as it offers little else. Sure there are the usual Allen ingredients, but with instantly detestable characters, like Kenneth Branagh's Lee Simon (who seems to be a caricature of Allen himself), i found it hard to celebrate this film as I had other Allen masterpieces.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Good film
Woody Allen continues to impress me. With a title like 'celebrity' you'd expect, if from any other filmmaker, a film full of Jordan-like people and Beckham's prancing around and trying their best to be in the spotlight. Clearly, and fortunately, that is not how Woody views celebrity.
The topic of fame and it's consequences it dealt with in a very subtle way by Woody. Like most of his films, it tells a story of a neurotic New Yorker who has issues; but it's woven in carefully with his desire for success with his writing; be it novels or screenplays... and the lengths he'll go too.
Very good film! not Woody's best, but still very good! -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Who's the Star Here?
For anyone familiar with Woody Allen's work, this film is an unnerving, if enjoyable piece of viewing. The casting of Branagh in the lead role is interesting - not least as it seems as if he is inhabiting the normal Allen role. In fact, it is as if Allen has asked him to play him, as he is in films such as Manhattan and Annie Hall. And Branagh gets it spot on - if you closed your eyes, you would think it was Woody not Kenneth - the accent, mannerisms, characterisation are spookily similar.
Despite a plot that is a little convoluted, this is a very enjoyable film, with good supporting parts from Winona Ryder, Leo DiCaprio and Famke Jansen, among others. If we're not sure by the end whether the eponymous celebrity is a blessing or a curse, we've certainly seen a few sides of it. The overall impression is of a world that is simultaneously achingly cool and glibly banal - enchanting and boring. If you like Allen's work, you won't be disappointed. -
Funniest since the 70s
Not his best film, but one of his funniest in a while. some great one liners, and Kenneth Brannagh's Woody impression is brilliant. Well, I liked it anyway. Woody himself would have been way too old to play the role himself, which doesn't usually stop him, I know.
Very funny movie. -
Great Impression
Kenneth Brannagh does a superb Woody Allen impression for 90 minutes.
All the usual Allen themes and great one liners make this a good choice for a Woody Allen fan. Also a succesion of famous cameos liven up the events.
Overall I would put this at the top of Allen's 90's output.
Critics' reviews (6)
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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
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"...Allen's surest instincts about the title subject are at work in the high-profile cast....[DiCaprio ends up] juicing the movie with a welcome power surge..."
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"...[Allen] wields a double-edged satirical scalpel when it comes to the pretensions of the beautiful and famous..."
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Robin (Davis) and Lee (Branagh) have recently divorced. Not surprising, since he's a scumbag journo so into fame,... read more on Time Out
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"...Mr. Allen shows a keenly acerbic eye for the scene he sets..."
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