2010's YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER nudges out 'Whatever Works' for the dubious title of Woody Allen's worst ever film. And I say this as a great admirer of much of his output in 70s and 80s.
There's not one redeeming feature in this worn-out retread of familiar Allen themes of fidelity, infidelity and the impossibility of finding a lasting and satisfying relationship. From the phoned-in performances by some big-name Hollywood stars (Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and
Josh Brolin), and excruciatingly hackneyed dialogue unconvincingly delivered, to the predictable plot, and sloppy editing everything about this drama screams burn out. The muse has moved on leaving Allen a tired shell of his former self.
The release of a new Woody Allen movie used to be an event I looked forward to. Now I dread them. I keep watching, hoping that maybe this time he'll have rediscovered the spark that made his earlier films sparkle with wit and insight into the human condition, but - with the partial exception of 'Vicky Christina Barcelona' - each time I'm left disappointed and deflated.
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