You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Written and directed by Woody Allen, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is an ensemble comedy about a couple’s long relationship falling apart while their daughter’s marriage is also going into trouble as she falls for another man. Meanwhile, their son-in-law becomes fascinated by an exotic beauty he sees. The film is Allen’s fourth feature shot on location in London as it explores relationships falling apart as it delves into different age groups about the problems of love. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Lucy Punch, Antonio Banderas, Anna Friel, Pauline Collins, Ewen Bremner, and Roger Ashton-Griffiths. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is light-hearted although very messy film from Woody Allen.

After 40 years of marriage, Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) leaves Helena (Gemma Jones) for a life of feeling young as Helena turns to a fortune teller Cristal (Pauline Collins) for help. Their daughter Sally (Naomi Watts) is going through financial struggles as she hopes to open an art gallery while her husband Roy (Josh Brolin) is having trouble trying to finish a novel having only achieved brief success with just one book. While Sally later gets a job working at an art gallery for a man named Greg (Antonio Banderas) whom she falls for while Roy starts to become entranced by a woman living across the street from him named Dia (Freida Pinto).

Alfie’s life is in an upswing where he marries a prostitute/actress named Charmaine (Lucy Punch) which revolts Sally as she helps introduce Greg to an artist friend named Iris (Anna Friel). Helena continues to seek advice from Cristal where she meets an occult bookseller named Jonathan (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) who is still mourning the loss of his wife. Roy’s frustrations over the lack of progress about his new book has him turning his attentions towards Dia as they become friends despite the fact that she’s engaged to be married. Sally’s infatuation with Greg has her realizing that something is going on as she and Roy start to fall apart due to the news over his new novel.

When Roy hears that his aspiring-novelist friend Henry (Ewen Bremner) had been killed in a car accident, Roy does something out of desperation so that he can impress Dia. Meanwhile, Alfie’s marriage to Charmaine starts to unravel due to her youthfulness as he wonders what he’s been doing. When Sally decides to strike out on her own, she confessions to Greg her feelings towards him as she realize that it will be a lot harder for her to start over. Notably as Roy’s life starts to take a dark turn when he is given some startling news as everyone ponders how did everything go wrong.

The film is about two different couples who fall out of love as they all seek to find some sort of new companionship or answers that will help them. Eventually, these four people and the new partners they meet would all face difficulty in their lives as they all wonder if they’ve made the right decision. Woody Allen’s screenplay does create characters that are quite compelling but a lot of them don’t really have qualities that are redeeming. Alfie is a fool while Helena is easily manipulated by the guidance of a possible fraud. Roy is an idiot who leaves a great chance to be a doctor as he becomes desperate to write another so he can impress this young woman. Sally meanwhile, is a woman who falls for an art gallery guy only to become jealous when he’s with someone else that she knows.

Allen’s script has a lot of storylines that tries to mesh itself together but often comes up as really uneven. While the voiceover narration by Zac Orth isn’t distracting as he tries to clue in what the characters are going through and their situations. Yet, it’s not enough to help the story where it often feels unnecessary at times. Allen’s direction is engaging at times for the way he lets the light-comedic moments unfold as well as a few dramatic moments. Still, there’s moments where Allen doesn’t do enough to keep it interesting as some of the intimate shots feels awkward at times. Despite some very good moments and interesting concepts, Allen ends up creating a film that is really cluttered with too many stories and a lot of un-likeable characters.

Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond does a nice job with the cinematography to complement the colorful look of sunny London for its daytime scenes as a lot of it straightforward including the nightclub scenes where Alfie spends time with Charmaine. Editor Alisa Lepselter does a very good job with the editing to maintain something that has a bit of stylistic flairs while a lot of it just plays it straight. Production designer Jim Clay, along with set decorator John Bush and art director Dominic Masters, does an excellent job with the set pieces created such as the homes the characters live in that includes Alfie‘s posh apartment and the flat that Iris lives in filled with her paintings.

Costume designer Beatrix Aruna Pasztor does a lovely job with the costumes created from the racy clothing that Charmaine sports to the array of red clothes that Dia wears that attracts the more casual Roy. Sound mixer Peter Glossop does a fine job with the sound to capture the locations around London such as its park and crowded places the characters go to. Music soundtrack producer Stefan Karrer does a superb job with the soundtrack as it features an array of different musical styles ranging from jazz, opera, and a flamenco theme revolves around Roy’s attraction towards Dia.

The casting by Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto, Gail Stevens, and Juliet Taylor is wonderful as it features a great ensemble that includes appearances from Ewen Bremner as a writer friend of Roy, Christian McKay as one of Roy’s poker friends, Fenella Woolgar as a friend of Sally, Anupam Kher as Dia’s literary-loving father, and Neil Jackson as Dia’s fiancé Alan. Other notable small roles include Anna Friel as Sally’s artist friend Iris, Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Helena’s new spiritual beau Jonathan, and Pauline Collins in a very funny role as the fortune teller Cristal. Antonio Banderas is very good in a very low-key performance as the charming yet somber Greg while Freida Pinto is a joy to watch as the exotic Dia despite the fact that the script doesn’t give her a lot to do. Lucy Punch is very funny as the sexy and vivacious Charmaine who seems to enjoy the attention she gets from Alfie though she has a hard time dealing with his world and her needs.

Gemma Jones is quite fine as Helena for the way she always talks about her visits with Cristal and talking about her own issues as it’s a big part for Jones despite the fact that the character is sort of pathetic. Josh Brolin is excellent as Roy as he spouts all of the frustrations of being a failed writer while displaying a sensitivity to the scenes he has with Freida Pinto despite the fact that his character makes some bad decisions. Naomi Watts is wonderful as Sally, a woman with a crush on her boss as she ponders about her own future and the frustrations she has with the things happening around her. Finally, there’s Anthony Hopkins in a nice role as the vital Alfie where Hopkins gets to feel very youthful as well as be played by a fool as it’s very humorous performance from Hopkins.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is a troubled yet mediocre film from Woody Allen. Despite the talented cast he’s gotten to work with, it’s a film that has a lot of ideas but nothing to make it consistent along with characters people can root for. The film is among one of Allen’s worst features due to its willingness to try and do a lot but creates a film that is very confusing and uninspiring. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is an overall mess of a film from Woody Allen.

Woody Allen Films: What’s Up, Tiger Lily? - Take the Money & Run - Bananas - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) - Sleeper - Love & Death - Annie Hall - Interiors - Manhattan - Stardust Memories - A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy - Zelig - Broadway Danny Rose - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hannah & Her Sisters - Radio Days - September - Another Woman - New York Stories-Oedipus Wrecks - Crimes & Misdemeanors - Alice - Shadows & Fog - Husbands & Wives - Manhattan Murder Mystery - Don't Drink the Water - Bullets Over Broadway - Mighty Aphrodite - Everyone Says I Love You - Deconstructing Harry - Celebrity - Sweet & Lowdown - Small Time Crooks - The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Hollywood Ending - Anything Else - Melinda & Melinda - Match Point - Scoop - Cassandra’s Dream - Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Whatever Works - Midnight in Paris - To Rome with Love - Blue Jasmine - Magic in the Moonlight - Irrational Man - (Cafe Society)

The Auteurs #24: Woody Allen: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 - Pt. 4

© thevoid99 2011

Hot Fuzz

Originally Written  at Epinions.com on 4/21/07 with minor edits.

In 2004, British director Edgar Wright and his co-screenwriter Simon Pegg scored a massive cult hit with a zombie movie spoof Shaun of the Dead. The film, that also starred their Spaced co-stars Nick Frost and Jessica Stevenson, was a spoof and homage to the zombie films of George Romero that brought laughs and new energy to the genre. The film's cult success grew as fans anticipated for the next Wright/Pegg project. In 2007, the duo along with Frost re-teamed to create another spoof, the buddy cop movies for the film Hot Fuzz.

Directed by Edgar Wright and co-written with Simon Pegg, Hot Fuzz is about a cop who gets transferred to a quiet British town where his new partner is the chief's inept son. Learning of a crime plot going on in the quiet little town, the two action-film loving cops decide to take on the crime itself with style. An homage yet satire of every cop film and its cliches, Hot Fuzz revels in its humor and love of action with Pegg and Nick Frost playing the lead characters. Also starring Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine, Anne Reid, Bill Nighy, Timothy Dalton, Billie Whitelaw, along with cameos from Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman, Stephen Merchant, and two other cameos by big stars (not going to tell ya). Hot Fuzz is a funny, satirical action-comedy that pays homage and laughs to the American action film genre.

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is a police officer in London. So good, so dedicated, that he makes everyone in the police force look bad. Really bad. Angel's dedication is so powerful that his superiors (Martin Freeman, Steve Coogan, and Bill Nighy) decide to transfer him to a sleepy village in the North of England called Sandford. Angel is forced to move as his ex-girlfriend (Ecat Chettblan) has moved on with a new boyfriend. Arriving into Sandford, his new superior Inspector Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent) introduces him to the local force that includes Angel's new partner and Butterman's son Danny (Nick Frost). The town hasn't had a recorded murder for twenty years as Angel finds himself out of place with the town. Even by his local forces that included detectives Andy Wainwright (Paddy Considine) and Andy Cartwright (Rafe Spall), officers Doris Thatcher (Olivia Colman) the aging Bob Walker (Karl Johnson) and Tony Fisher (Kevin Eldon).

Angel also has gotten the attention of local supermarket owner Simon Skinner (Timothy Dalton), who has been saying mysterious things, while being head of the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance along with Joyce Cooper (Billie Whitelaw), Dr. Robin Hatcher (Stuart Wilson), Reverend Phillip Shooter, (Paul Freeman) and Tom Weaver (Edward Woodward) who surveys everything in the town. Angel also meets local florist Leslie Tiller (Anne Reid), journalist Tim Messenger (Adam Buxton), and local millionaire George Merchant (Ron Cook). Angel finds himself getting into weird situations including trying to get a swan for its owner (Stephen Merchant) as he wonder where is the crime. Then after stopping a couple (David Threlfall & Lucy Punch) for speeding, he learns that Inspector Butterman wants Angel and Danny to go see them at their play. Then, a murder has occurred but has been covered up as an accident. Angel doesn’t believe it was an accident though the rest of the police staff laugh it off.

Feeling no respect for his work, only Danny seems to become his friend despite his lack of experience. Yet, Danny’s love for American action films including Point Break and Bad Boys II gives Angel something to take a break off. Then when another murder occurred at George Merchant's home, Angel becomes suspicious. Even more when more are murder including one witnessed by Angel, Angel wants to know what goes on. He suspects Skinner for the killings but doesn't get any proof. With Danny being the only help he has, he doesn't get any respect from anyone including Inspector Butterman who believes it's all a bunch of accidents. Angel continues his investigations where after an attack by one of Skinner's henchmen. He then learns not only that Skinner is involved but other people as well including those from the N.W.A. and a surprise member. There, Angel, Danny, and the rest of the force decide to get the law into order and with a bang.

When people see action films, they don't expect anything serious but blow-them-up and lots of stunts. Yet, they can get too serious and end up becoming parody. In the case of this film, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg doesn't exactly take a p*ss on the American action genre. They glorify them while making fun of every cliche that's been seen in those films and have fun with them. The film's plot is easy to follow though a bit slow at times to move the story. It's only because the character of Angel is merely a satire of the cops seen on action films who takes himself too seriously at times and not be loose at the same time. Then when he is influenced by the action films Danny shows him, he becomes a different animal.

Edgar Wright clearly goes for style with this film rather than substance. Yet, it all works to convey the humor of what he's trying to do. He’s taking a p*ss at every cliche, every action film shot, every buddy cop movie. Yet, it's all in good fun. Even getting the likes of respected, British actors like Billie Whitelaw, Anne Reid, Jim Broadbent, Stuart Wilson, Ron Cook, and Edward Woodward to do something that isn't expected of them. It's because he knows that these actors are often seen in British dramas or Shakespeare but here, he lets them have guns, shoot people, and whatever. All in good fun. Plus, there's moments of gore that's also a bit extreme for the American action fan but that's the way the British does it. In some respects, Wright knows what he's doing and he's giving the audience something to have fun with while paying some respect to action directors and such.

Cinematographer Jess Hall does excellent work with the stylish, slow-mo camera work that's often done in action films while bringing a colorful look the British village. Editor Chris Dickens even goes for style with the kind of rapid-cutting that's seen in a lot of action films that are hyper-kinetic. There at least, the editing is all in good fun and plays to that action film style. Production designer Marcus Rowland and Liz Griffiths add a nice look to the film’s countryside while costume designer Annie Hardinge brings a nice look to the British cop clothes. Makeup artist Candice Banks does great work in playing with the gore as well as those cool mustaches Paddy Considine and Rafe Spall wear. Sound designer Craig Butters and sound editor Julian Slater play off to the film's action style in its sound while visual effects supervisor Richard Briscoe does some great special effects for some of the film's action scenes. Composer David Arnold also plays off to the genre with a stylish, orchestral score. The film's soundtrack also has kick with music by Adam Ant, XTC, Supergrass, the Kinks, Sweet, Arthur Brown, and Jon Spencer to add energy to the film.

The film's cast couldn't have been inspiring. The cameos from Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Stephen Merchant, and an Academy Award-winning director (ain't telling you), along with an Academy Award-winning actress (still ain't telling you) are funny to watch. The performances from veteran actors like Stuart Wilson, Anne Reid, Ron Cook, Edward Woodward, Billie Whitelaw, and Paul Freeman are fun to watch as they engage themselves in gore and have fun shootouts without taking themselves too seriously. Other small performances from Tim Barlow as Skinner's henchmen, Alice Low as Skinner's secretary, David Threlfall, Lucy Punch, and Adam Buxton are excellent. Fellow cops Olivia Colman, Karl Johnson, and Kevin Eldon are given some great funny moments as well as some great action scenes. Paddy Considine and Rafe Spall are hilarious as the mustache Andys who play the detective who love to make fun of Angel and his city-ways.

Jim Broadbent is wonderfully funny as the easy-going yet shady Inspector Butterman who doesn't want to believe anything that's wrong while trying to make Angel fit in. Broadbent is given great moments in both the action scenes and in the funny stuff where's given a lot to do and have fun at the same time. Playing against the James Bond role he's known for, Timothy Dalton is great as another shady individual as the villainous Skinner who is trying to do anything but to cover up his plans. Dalton is great while getting to do things he wouldn't have done as Bond, where he looks like he's having fun.

Nick Frost is really the funniest person on film. His character doesn't take things seriously and is like a kid when it comes to action movies and idolize them. He's like the cop that wants to be the superbad cop he idolizes in the cop movies. Frost brings a lot of fun to the role and makes himself relatable to audiences. Simon Pegg is also great as the straight man of the film who takes himself too seriously when doing things as Pegg really shows more of a dramatic side. When his character decides to go badass, he really sells it with a lot wit and humor. The chemistry of Frost and Pegg are just a joy to watch as they make themselves one hell of a comedy duo.

While not as funny as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz is still a hilarious, witty action-comedy from the duo of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. With great comedy assistance from Nick Frost and a great cast of respected British actors, it's a film that gives the audience what they want. Loads of laughs and lots of violence, it's just a film that action fans can enjoy without taking it too seriously. In some ways, the British just know how to do the genre a bit better without being too serious while adding more gore to the festivity. In the end, for a film that brings laughs and a great experience to cheer, Hot Fuzz is the film to see.

Edgar Wright Films: (A Fistful of Fingers) - Shaun of the Dead - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - The World's End - Baby Driver - The Sparks Brothers - Last Night in Soho

© thevoid99 2010