Celebrity (1998)

Writer-director Woody Allen does not appear in this lesser comedic effort (he did himself a service by bowing out), but he's nearly present just the same. Kenneth Branagh does an amazing Woody Allen impersonation as a fidgety, horny newspaper and magazine writer who has various encounters with sexy women after divorcing his neurotic wife, played by a drab, worn-out Judy Davis. Melanie Griffith is very good as a glamorous starlet, Winona Ryder is cute as a waitress and movie extra, Charlize Theron is positively feral as predatory supermodel, and Leonardo DiCaprio is very convincing (unpleasantly so) as a havoc-wreaking, foul-mouthed movie star. But the meet-cutes and idle chatter between these characters do not a movie make--these people are so tiresome most of the time, they bore themselves. Allen takes a bit of chance here--this isn't his usual collection of smart-talking, classical music-loving New Yorkers--however the male-female hang-ups are still the same, depressingly so. *1/2 from ****

"Celebrity" was pretty much maligned back during its initial release, but my wife and I had a blast with it, and I think it deserves a second look from people who dismissed it the first time around.Kenneth Branagh is an able Allen stand in, playing a writer struggling with all of the things characters in Woody Allen movies struggle with. But it's the story of his ex-wife, played by Judy Davis almost as a parody of herself from other Allen movies, that's most memorable. One of the film's highlights is Davis's character receiving advice on how to administer oral sex from a hooker, played by Bebe Neuwirth. Let's just say a banana and a close call are involved.The night my wife and I saw this, we lost our car in the parking lot of the movie theater and wandered around in a frigid Chicago night, giggling because we couldn't find it. The situation was made even funnier because we kept crossing paths with another couple who had lost THEIR car, and were giggling because they couldn't find their's either. Maybe that's why I have such fond memories of this movie.Grade: A-

One of Woody's overlooked gems. It's held up remarkably well. Still very entertaining, funny, and all too timely. And what else had Charlize Theron done at this point? She's a revelation. Kenneth Branaugh is spot-on as Woody himself (even better than John Cusack was in that role in "Bullets Over Broadway." Judy Davis gives one her all time great neurotic performances. Why wasn't she Oscar-nominated for this?! This movie offers among the best testimonials as to why so many actors want to be in a Woody Allen film. He raises the bar for nearly all of them, even while skewering their neuroses, egos, and the warped world they must thrive in. Party scenes topped only by back-stage chaos at TV talk show.

I saw this movie a few days ago,and I loved it like any other Woody Allen movie.And I don't get why so many people hate this movie and also critics.some say this film s too explicit and etc.I think the story and the dialoges were great.One of the best things in this film was the Cinematography which was fascinating.And the actings imo are at the top.Especially,Judy Davis,Winona Ryder and Joe Mantegna did excellent performances and deserved nominations,and about Kenneth Branagh,many say is terrible in this because of doing a Woody Allen impression,but I can't agree with that.I think he showed his versatility and did a very sharp performance. Afteral,I think this movie didn't get enough credit as it deserved and is a very very underrated and btw misunderstood film.