"- I think it's a very moral play, don't you think?
Moral? In what way?
- Well, about evil, about fate."
This brief conversation about a theater piece in a movie is actually about the film, about Woody Allen's new, well tempered situational movie itself. Somehow everything is so simple as this conversation is - but it's not a wonder if we are in Allen's hands. I would say just another perfect story, but unfortunately we can't say this about his films nowadays. It's not like he forgot to create perfect situations which are crying for a story, it's more like he is still easily mastering all the psychological elements of a comedy or drama (whatever for him, but mostly the former one), but somehow these situational games don't fit into a coherent narrative. I was - as I used to in cases of a Woody Allen film - really enjoyed all the conversations, the actors' performances and this time even the created story too. Although I felt a bit longer than necessary the installation of the situation (the actors compensated for that easily), but somehow even enjoyed that in the hope that the ending will pay off my patience. As you already realized, I wasn't amazed about the ending - and I won't flatter: you won't be either.
As I claimed the sory is more than promising: two brothers, Ian's and Terry's otherwise lovely characters impersonate both sides of our self's weaknesses. Ian (Ewan McGregor is brilliantly natural in his role as he used to be. He can hold a glass of beer the most convincing among all the actors from Great Britain) wants to be more than he is: he wants to establish his own ideas, to impress a girl with higher expectations, to get part of a one size bigger business. He is getting frustrated, desperate. Terry's (Colin Farrell convinces me more and more about his acting talent. Funny coincidence that he is experiencing almost the same trauma in this film what he received in McDonagh's In Bruges) passionate addiction of gambling, and what is more dangerous, his true belief on his winning streaks makes him desperate... Two desperate guys need to solve their situations. Two desperate guys are reaching a "line". They exactly know: if you cross that line, there aren't ways back:
"then was then, and the now is now."
Do or die? Die or do? Both?
Perfect team (Allen, McGregor, Farrell, Philip Glass, Vilmos Zsigmond) for a simple (Allen uses the myth of Cassandra elegantly, without any obtrusion), almost perfect story. Just watch it (if it helps: better than Allen's last movies. If you're not convinced yet one more argument: he is not playing any parts in the film (on the picture he is instructing out of scene)).
7/10
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