Stardust Memories [DVD]

A favourite Allen film of mine; this is a sharp comedy about celebrity and the craziness of the film industry; Allen has claimed it isn't autobiographical, but it's difficult not to see some parallels in the film's characterisation and the relevance of the comedy director trying to make more serious films within the Hollywood system.Allen shoots it rather like a Fellini movie with a general supporting cast of outlandish characters and situations that probably aren't quite as bizarre as they first appear, given the nature of film festivals, fandom and the industry; there are actually some really deep issues raised, despite it's blackly comic treatment.And, like most of Allen's films it has a wonderful soundtrack of original jazz classics and some piano tracks by Dick Hyman – the MD on the film – though special mention must go to Louis Armstrong, whose recording of “Stardust” is the highlight of the film and inspired the title.As with all of Allen's films there are no extras on the DVD; English subtitles are available.

This is one of Woody’s more complicated movies and whilst quite stunning to look at and full of his usual wit; it is not easy to follow. It’s probably best not to worry about it too much and just go with the flow!The story is about a famous director who has a nervous breakdown; he revisits the loves of his life, searching for some harmony and sense to it all. Where ever he goes he is bombarded by his fans for autographs and showered with questions – his manners here are exemplary all things considered – you can certainly see why some stars shun public life?The plot, if any is told through a series of flashbacks, fantasy sequences, his own movie clips and mental snatches from his breakdown - in no particular order!We take Woody’s humour for granted of course but the B&W cinematography in this film is quite stunning. It was filmed by Gordon Willis, who has helped make many of Woody’s films, but is most famous for the ‘Godfather’ trilogy.The ‘shooting’ is most memorable for its ‘Strange Days,’ almost nightmarish, grotesque, close ups of the crowds’ faces, as they surround the popular director in the public areas. It highlights their strange and surreal characteristics – I can still see one woman with outlandishly huge glasses and people with all sorts of ridiculous hair styles, large noses, crooked teeth etc. It’s just fascinating to see and take in. It’s a never ending flow of wonderful caricatures.This is a film that will linger with you for a long time, and you’ll soon realise that to enjoy it to the max it doesn’t have to make too much sense – as indeed, a breakdown certainly wouldn’t?This is as good as any of Woody Allen’s 5 star efforts and by his own admission is one of his favourites and is NOT about himself.

Stardust Memories (1980) for me is one of Woody Allen's very best films even though it doesn't seem to have dazzled critics in the same way as Manhattan or Annie Hall. The humor is bitter - verging on sour - as we chart the visit of film director Sandy Bates (Woody himself) to a festival held in his honor. Everyone congratulates him on his previous funny movies that now he'd rather forget, intent as he is on making 'serious' films. At this stage of his career Woody had had enough of the celebrity side of the film business and used the film to vent his bile on all his pet hates. In between the sycophants and fan geeks who latch on to him like leeches, Woody takes us through the women of his life, most significantly the manic depressive Dorrie (a superbly neurotic Charlotte Rampling), his current mistress, Isobel (a sexy and very feminine Marie-Christine Barrault) and the inevitable young new attraction, Daisy (Jessica Harper). His perceptions are by turn witty, poignant, bitter-sweet and revealing about the mechanisms that lie behind this nebbish schlemiel from the Bronx. His ripping-off of 8 1/2 enraged the Fellini family at the time, but it didn't stop Woody from later ripping off La Strada for Sweet and Lowdown as well! Also, there is a fair bit of borrowing from Ingmar Bergman, most notably in the 2 minute close up jump-cut feast on Dorrie's face. At the time many attacked Woody's stealing from his favorite European directors. Looking back after 30 years or so however and his 'stealing' now seems vindicated because he still managed to turn his films into something both honest to himself and uniquely American. He had spent much of the early 70s churning out 'funnies' such as Sleeper, Bananas and Love and Death. It now seems obvious that Woody felt his Oscar for Annie Hall and the critical acclaim for Manhattan allowed him to go beyond his stand-up comic routine and make exactly what he wanted to. The fact that the totally serious Bergman-inflected Interiors bombed (it's a very good film by the way) no doubt forms the core inspiration for the sarcasm showcased in Stardust Memories. Far from being a 'steal' the film now seems a remarkably honest portrait of the artist at that stage of his career in 1979. Going back to it after watching his more recent efforts (superficial fluff like Whatever Works, Scoop!, Cassandra's Dream and Anything Else?), it comes as a wonderful blast of fresh air from the past. In the late 70s and early 80s he really was one of the best around. I urge anyone who hasn't seen this film to buy it and see how good he used to be. The soundtrack is wonderful as per usual, Gordon Willis's b/w photography looks fabulous and the jokes come thick and fast. It's one to relish, especially at this give away price...

This wasn't as good as I remembered, was considerably more lighweight. That said, compared to most films it's pretty good. There is wit, some intelligence at work, and the whole thing looks beautiful. It is Woody Allen's take on Fellini's 8 1/2, an account of a film director's self examination as he attends a festival of his work, and consists of a bunch of little vignettes such as are typical of Allen in this, the best period of his work. Definitely worth seeing, if only for the jokes