JakeStevens Blog

...I love it more and more. I remember seeing this in the theater in Boston in 1997, and it perfectly fit the overall tone of that trek so well. I owned it on VHS, and now I own it on DVD. Every viewing, I feel closer to the characters, my stomach churns every time someone makes a mistake or has an uncomfortable reveal. Great writing, great acting (especially for Ricci and Wood, who need more roles like these), great cinematography and most of all, great direction. A fantastic film.

While certainly not one of the Woodman's best, this was only the 2nd or 3rd Allen film I'd ever seen, and the first time I saw it, I knew I'd better watch some more Woody Allen films. I was watching with my uncle, and we both could not stop laughing at scene where he falls off the set - it's just great comedic timing. Unfortunately, on a second viewing (and after seeing many other, better, Allen films), I didn't find it as endearing, but the performances are still good throughout, particularly Leoni and Messing (whom I've never really cared for). If you're interested in Woody Allen's oeuvre, I'd say start here, because you'll be intrigued, but there's much better fare out there.

Not a bad film, it just doesn't have the emotional punch (no pun intended) I was expecting. Everything seems a little too heightened to seem real - DiCaprio's a little too rambunctious, De Niro's a little too mean, Barkin's a little too lovably kooky, and the rest of the characters never really develop into anyone you honestly care about. The fight scene between De Niro and DiCaprio at the end, in contrast, feels shockingly real, I mean I could feel the heat of the punches and kicks, and is literally the best part of the film. I suppose I'd watch it again, but for me, it's just another biopic.