介绍:
Woody Allen continues his tour around European cities. In his new film "To Rome with Love" we follow his tourist frenzy around the Eternal City, like we did in the midnight streets of Paris. But this time, his sponsors in Rome may have little cause to cheer, because the new production contains the least possible Roman element, and an increase in the director's jabbering.
The ensemble movie consists of four stories, each one more absurd than the last as they take turns developing as the burnished, golden pictures of cinematographer Darius Khondji. Allen plays a retired opera director who discovers a brilliant tenor in his funeral director in-law, but unfortunately, or rather inconveniently, this amateur tenor sings well only when he takes a shower. The absurdity of this story culminates with a performance in an opera house in a purpose-built shower. Allen's constant chattering makes it all possible. .
The next example of jabbering is contributed by Alec Baldwin, playing an architect who observes a younger version of himself caught in a triangular relationship. As a seasoned person both in terms of age and career, Baldwin proves to be a reliable advisor to the youth, who is played by Jess Eisenberg. However, it seems rationale is always a missing ingredient in Allen's interpretation of romance. The young man takes no heed of Baldwin's warning and allows himself to fall for the temptation of the illicit affair.
The director's mistrust in love and marriage is further seen by a provincial couple who come to Rome for a new life. Both receive exciting and enlightening sex education courses with persons outside their marriage, before they decide that they are better off at home.
The comedy is supplemented by Roberto Benigni's ingenious portrayal of a mundane Roman local. His eventless life takes a dramatic turn when all of a sudden the media finds his dull life worthy of public attention. His taste of fame is fleeting, but carries the full dose of the director's sarcasm.
All four stories could have happened in a city other than Rome. And they don't necessarily relate to one coherent idea. The movie incorporates the director's opinion of romance and love, ambition and fame. The only perceivable connection between all four stories is perhaps is that each cast member makes each individual story interesting.
If we were to take "To Rome with Love" as a part of Woody Allen's tour of Europe, it will be a failed example, because the movie at its best is a collection of the director's random thoughts imposed on the city of Rome. It would have been a decent movie for an average director, but for Allen, the setbacks are not as easily forgivable. On a scale from one to 10, I think it deserves a five.
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