Stardust Memories (1980)

Can't miss

This and "Manhattan" are Woody's two great masterpieces, I think. It's quirky, but it hasn't dated at all because it's classic. You won't laugh a lot, but you may smirk, or smile. I hadn't seen this since it came out years ago. It was a great re-visit. Typical Woody jazz soundtrack lends atmosphere. August 3, 2008

Declaration of cinematic independence

There are so many levels to Allen's "Stardust Memories" that it seems a slight to his genius as well as an impoverishment of the viewing experience to reduce the film to only one of them. At one level is the "existential" message: the worries about mortality and meaning that ooze through Allen's films, even the early slapstick ones. There's the "Eurofilm" message, in which Allen pays homage to the thoughtful and experimental films of Bergman and Fellini (rumor has it that Allen thought about calling the film "4" on the grounds that it wasn't half as good as Fellini's "8 1/2"). But there's also a hint of parody here as well, just the slightest suggestion that perhaps avant garde film makers (and this includes Allen) take themselves a bit too seriously. There's the exploration of human relationships with three different women--Dorrie (Charlotte Rampling), Daisy (Jessica Harper), and Isobel (Marie-Christine Barrault)--and the suggestion that in love, we're often more attracted to the wounded and broken (Dorrie and Daisy) than the healthy and life-affirming (Isobel). There's the comedic level, especially in the scenes with the aliens, the sister, and he driver.

But for my money, the overarching theme is one of liberation--Allen's liberation as a film maker. Although he's said that the film isn't autobiographical, and that he shouldn't be confused with the lead character Sandy Bates, these protestations are, of course, nonsense. Allen's film is in part a nose-thumbing at those fans and critics who demand that he continue making "funny" films--that is, all those viewers who think that they have proprietary rights in him and resist any challenge to those rights. The film is also a rebellion against the studio money men (in this case, chillingly represented by a haughty, supercilious, slightly bored Laraine Newman) for whom all that counts is the bottom line and who also claim proprietary rights. In short, the film is Woody's declaration of cinematic independence from fans' expectations and film executives' pocket books--but done with undertones of self-deprecation and bittersweetness rather than bravado, as witnessed by a closing scene of Allen staring into an empty theater's blank screen and a tender but bittersweet one of him remembering a Sunday morning with Dorrie.

And speaking of Dorrie: I don't think there's any doubt that the collaboration between Rampling and Allen in "Stardust" is sheer cinematic history. The collage of Dorrie speaking to the camera from the insane asylum, which Allen says was inspired by cubist art, is the film's most memorable scene.

In short, a brilliant film. No wonder Allen considers it one of his best. July 27, 2008

stunning

Stardust Memories is a brilliant tribute to Fellini and Bergman that still manages to give us some of that classic Woody Allen humor every so often to lighten things up just a bit. The plot moves along at a good pace and I enjoyed the flashbacks that are interjected so masterfully into the film. The convincing acting held my attention all the way and the black and white footage is very tastefully done.

The action begins when overstressed movie director Sandy Bates (Woody Allen) is pushed into attending a two day film festival in his honor. At the festival they show his "funny films;" and Bates is lauded for that by his adoring--and endlessly pestering--fans who want many more comedies from Bates. Trouble is, however, that Sandy Bates no longer wants to make funny movies. Instead, he now prefers to make artistic, meaningful movies that reflect the human condition--or perhaps Sandy may even want to quit the film industry altogether and go into some type of profession in which he can help other people.

There are not one, not two, but three women in Sandy's life. His relationship with his former lover Dorrie (Charlotte Rampling) is portrayed very well in flashbacks; and his current romance with Isobel (Marie-Christine Barrault) is a bit shaky at times but it's still ongoing. Sandy also flirts with another woman he meets at the film festival; he likes Daisy's (Jessica Harper) artistic and sensitive qualities.

Look for excellent performance by Tony Roberts who plays himself; and Helen Hanft plays Vivian Orkin, the "MC" of the film festival.

Overall, if you've seen Fellini's 8 1/2, you're going to appreciate this film more than if you haven't. At the same time, however, other people will still get a lot out of this even if they haven't seen 8 1/2. I highly recommend this film for Woody Allen fans and people who enjoy artistic cinema with very high quality control.
January 28, 2008

Bergman/Fellini redux

Stardust Memories is an underappreciated Bergman/Fellini homage by Woody. It's really funny and has great cinematography. After Broadway Danny Rose,it's a favorite. January 26, 2008

One of my favorite Woody Allen films....

Critics did not like this film very much, calling it cruel and bleak, for example. I think it's one of Woody's funniest, most intelligent films, with classic scenes to rival his other films. This was one of the first films to really examine the stalker like quality of obsessed fans. Sandy Bates (Woody's character) is bombarded with people at the festival looking for some great insight into life, when Sandy really has none. There's a woman who sneaks into his hotel room thinking sleeping with him will by a mystical experience (and her boyfriend approves of it, at least she says). There are also tons of people who have "causes" who want him to talk at their function. 27 years after this film was made, many of these things are now commonplace. Cinematically, this is one of Woody's best film. The black and white photography is beautiful, and many of Woody's compositions are the best of his career. And I love the use of Moonlight Serenade during the "balloon" scene. This is a much more complex film than most people give credit to. The critics fell all over Interiors (an overly serious film which was good, but not great), but they didn't like this one at all for some reason. This has turned out to be one of my favorite Woody Allen films. September 24, 2007

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