Woody Allen's weakest film by far...It was so not his style, non-convincing, unreal and wearisome. The performances (by Radha Mitchell, Will Ferrell and Chiwetel Ejiofor to name a few) were as great as they could be, how could they not when Woody Allen has the direction...
However, this is simply an incomplete in many ways, easily-forgettable and needless film.
I found it very interesting, however its very strange seeing Will Ferrell play Woody Allen, it seemed extremely forced seeing as they are completely different people.
Woody Allen is a self righteous, two-bit, no talent writer director; whose films are redundant and unrealistic to the actual human condition. Will Ferrell was funny.
I havent cared much for the modern Woody Allen movies, I stopped watching "Match Point" after the first hour, cus I just couldnt take it anymore. "Deconstructing Harry" and "Hollywood Ending" were amusing flops in a very Woody Allenesque way. Melinda...(read more) and Melinda seems to have been a creative turning point for Allen, and it's written all over the film and it's central question of which is the "truer" story the comedy or the tragedy?
Two writers are having dinner in a restuarant and begin having an arguement about comedy vs. tragedy, and their differences in conveying truth, they each tell a story about a women named Melinda played by Radha Mitchell, and in each all of the characters remain the same though played by different actors to suite the different forms. The love interest in Melinda's tragedy is piano playing Chiwetel Ejiofor (one of the best new actors working), and as for comedy who else but Will Ferrell (who is a wonder to see transform into Woody Allen by the movie's end).
What makes Melinda and Melinda more than just yet another in what seems to be and endless line of Woody Allen films, is that both the tragic elements and the comic work excellently, meaning you don't have to watch the slow, meandering Allen tragedy with the improbably good looking actors as "regular people", nor do you have to sit through another mediocre golden age Allen comedy. Melinda & Melinda is the best of both worlds. Funny, smart, and makes an interesting literary arguement into a cinematic parlor game. Refreshing, wonderfully acted and scripted, enjoyable, and kinda thought provoking.
And it looks like I'm the only person whose reviewed it. Echo...echo....echo....
MCT:August 8, 2008
MCT:August 5, 2008
MCT:July 8, 2008
MCT:June 27, 2008
