The critics seem to devour beating up Woody Allen. “Cassandra’s Dream” follows in the trend of the last 15 or so years of the public and critics turning their assist on Allen and his films. I’ve found that they sometimes buy cheap shots. It’s one thing not to like an Allen film, but often I read personal attacks against Allen the man. Remarks are made concerning his age, personal life and his relationship with Soon-Yi. Rarely do critics stick to comments concerning editing, cinematography or acting without inserting a jab at Allen.
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Every review I’ve approach across for this film has been negative. “Variety” did not like it, spending a majority of the review complaining about the characters accents and the language worn in the film, citing it is not authentic if you are British. Roger Ebert did not like it nor did the Chicago Tribune while the Fresh York Times seemed luke-warm to it.
Once again however I obtain myself on the outside of public notion. “Cassandra’s Dream” is one of 2007’s best films. Many may want to compare it to Allen’s “Match Point”, Allen’s other film location in London revolving around slay and social class. Don’t! The films are very different. “Match Point” I felt ragged metaphor in a more reliable contrivance. I notion Allen did a better job expressing his views on society in that film, but, “Cassandra’s Dream” should not go without its due praise.
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The film follows two lower class brothers, Ian (Ewan McGregor) and Terry (Colin Farrell) trying to procure by and climb the social ladder to success. Terry has a bit of a drinking and gambling spot. For now the gambling is paying off. Winning itsy-bitsy amounts at cards and betting on the dog track. Ian on the other hand works at the family restuarant but dreams of investing in hotels. In many ways he wants to be like his rich uncle Howard (Tom Wilkinson), who has travelled all over the world.
One day Terry’s luck runs out, he losses great at a poker game and is 90 thousand pounds in debt. Where will he procure the money? Ian has some money saved for his hotel investments but not 90 thousand pounds. Their only hope is their rich uncle.
Before their uncle will give them the money he has a favor to ask. There is a whistle-blower at Howard’s company who is going to testify against him for some questionable business moves he made. Howard needs the man to be, shall we say, eliminated. And he can only turn to his family for such a ask.
At the heart of Allen’s film is what lies in men’s souls. Are superior people top-notch of poor things. The brothers may have their faults, but they are not criminals. The tagline line for the film is every dream has a brand. It’s key to the film. How far would you go to come your dreams? How severely will we allow our correct judgement to punish us for “ghastly” acts?
We saw this inquire of indicate itself in Allen’s “Match Point” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (which also had brothers planning a cancel. In fact the modern title for the film was “Brothers”) .
McGregor is noble in the film as his character I felt was better defined and goes through more of a transformation. Farrell is the obsolete link of the bunch. His character seems underdeveloped. In honesty both characters could have former more work but McGregor adds something to the character through his presence as an actor. He makes the fragment more exciting then it was written. Farrell keeps his performance at the page level. Meaning he doesn’t flesh the character out to beget it his bear but instead simply sticks to the page.
The major acting catch here is Hayley Atwell. She is a savor playing Angela Stark, a savor interest for Ian. She is an unknown actress who has the potential to be a star. Unfortunately Allen and his legendary Hungarian cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, whose credits include “The Long Goodbye”, “The Deer Hunter”, “Blow Out” and Allen’s “Melinda and Melinda” don’t linger on Atwell. Allen should have had the camera follow her more aggressively, making the camera and the viewer tumble in worship with her. But that may have changed the tone of the film.
Zsigmond though for his fragment does regain some gorgeous country side shots as Allen shows as a different side of London than what we saw in “Scoop” and “Match Point”. We inspect a more gritty side of London.
The editing of the film I also found effective. It slowly builds tension. As I first began watching the film I conception to myself this is a “edifying” Allen film. Then I slowly became more and mroe enthusiastic. How would the cancel happen? Would they do it? Will they obtain away with it? How will such a film raze? The film really grabbed my attention. My eyes became glued to the shroud.
Clear there are downsides to the film, some of the performances, I view more could have been done with Atwell and I found the modern bag by Philip Glass, at times unsuccessful in creating the favorable mood. I didn’t reflect it added distinguished to the film. I belief the best scenes were the ones without any music. But “Cassandra’s Dream” is worth seeing. Yes the negative remarks will continue, but for me at least, I’m delighted I saw this film.
Bottom-line: One of 2007’s best films. Despite some flaws Allen manages to sustain his audience engaged. The film slowly creeps up on you.
Since the times of “Considerable Aphrodite” the genial Woody Allen seems to have found a never ending vein of possibilities, blending the considerable roots of the Greek tragedy with the classic patterns of the Noir Film.
As a matter of fact, if “Match Point” was one of his most supreme achievements until this date, “Cassandra ` s dream” is the perfect vehicle to slice in relief the existential trouble and the notable bawl for two working class brothers who aspire to hasten from his quotidian environment.
Every one of them wants to be recognized and admired, playing the game of a wealthy uncle, who is for their mother, the symbol of success, and the dependable serve along his years of childhood and youth.
So, we have the greedy mother, the ruthless uncle who is a sincere wolf of the finances and regards the existence like a poker game. “Family is family and blood and blood” is his honour` s code, the fatal statement which will originate the Pandora’s box, leading the viewer to be glance of what the unsatisfying thirst of ambition and greed .
Once more, we are in front of one the most intelligently written and better conceived scripts of this tireless filmmaker, where the brain sees to impose itself into a world eminently emotional where nobody is totally innocent.
Both brothers appear like the sides of a coin, one represents the wounded conscious, while the other is the symbol of the pragmatism. A similar dramatic way who reminded me to Sean Penn `s “Indian runner”.
Watch it, because it’s absolutely gratifying from originate to achieve.
The note gets 5 stars, but this DVD treatment brings the rating down to three.
