Intermission: 'Hollywood Ending' not Allen's finest, but still enjoyable

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|bold_on|"Hollywood Ending"|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Directed by: Woody Allen|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Starring: Woody Allen, Tea Leoni, George Hamilton, Treat Williams|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Rated: PG-13|ret||ret||tab|

In a weekend that saw box-office records fall "Spiderman" outpaced the recent "Harry Potter" for highest opening-day gross in theater history a few smaller movies slipped through, albeit mostly unnoticed, as well.|ret||ret||tab|

It's been said that, "Writers write." The same holds true for filmmakers: They make films. Writer/actor/director, and true auteur Woody Allen is proof of the point. He has directed 31 films in 34 years and can generally be counted on for a movie a year nowadays. |ret||ret||tab|

Some of his films have connected with the masses "Annie Hall" did great at the box office and won a few Oscars; some, like "Manhattan," have been critics' favorites; and still others, things like "Stardust Memories," didn't excite anyone much. (Personally, I thought it was a brilliant satire.) But Allen, true to his job description, keeps on making movies.|ret||ret||tab|

With his latest effort, "Hollywood Ending," Allen finds himself making a film about making films. This piece falls somewhere in middle-of-the-road Allen territory; not among his best, but certainly an enjoyable, entirely watchable movie and one must consider that a mediocre Allen movie is still head-and-shoulders above typical Hollywood fare. |ret||ret||tab|

There are numerous one-liners and quick asides, as well as an inventive plot "gimmick" and Allen is back in the lead role playing another in a long line of characters most people assume is somewhat close to his real persona. |ret||ret||tab|

Allen is Val Waxman, a once-brilliant and critically acclaimed director who, due to his belief that art is more valuable than commerce, as well as a strong case of hypochondria, is finding it hard to get work nowadays. Val could be Allen's character, director Sandy Bates, from "Stardust Memories," 20-odd years down the road.|ret||ret||tab|

After getting fired from a deodorant commercial he was shooting somewhere above the Arctic circle, Val's career hits yet another low.|ret||ret||tab|

Enter Ellie, Val's ex-wife (Tea Leoni) who left him for a smarmy Hollywood producer. Besides being the producer's main squeeze, she also works for his film company. They're about to produce a big budget film set in the streets of New York. Despite the rather ugly split up, Ellie is sure the one guy who can make this film is Val. All the other executives are against it, but after some deft deal making and a meeting with Val, Ellie manages to persuade them and Val is signed on as director of "The City That Never Sleeps."|ret||ret||tab|

Although he vows to keep their personal life out of it, Val can't go more than a couple of minutes during any given meeting with Ellie without dredging up past emotional baggage. Then, just before shooting is to begin, one of Val's psychosomatic illnesses kicks in. This one's a doozy. Val finds himself blind.|ret||ret||tab|

A blind director who doesn't exactly have the faith of the production company behind him, at the helm of a $60 million picture is a pretty funny/uneasy premise for Allen to build a story around, and he does so with his usual skills. |ret||ret||tab|

Val's agent realizes there's big trouble afoot and knows he has to find someone on the set to help Val every moment. This person has to be completely trustworthy. They choose the Chinese cameraman's translator. Val can't see what's going on to block scenes, make decisions about sets or costumes or see the dailies that are screened at the end of every shooting day. Knowing his career will be over if he fouls this one up, the director forges (blindly) ahead.|ret||ret||tab|

Matters get complicated when the translator gets fired. A new guide must be found and the only likely person is Ellie. She's horrified when she finds out but agrees to keep things under her hat. |ret||ret||tab|

The film gets made, Val regains his sight and when he sees "The City That Never Sleeps," he is absolutely sure his career is over. Audiences hate it. Critics hate it even more. At the last minute, an unexpected twist of fate comes Val's way.|ret||ret||tab|

If you aren't familiar with the entire body of Allen's work, let me suggest a few films available at your local video store to broaden your horizons. |ret||ret||tab|

"Annie Hall" A must see for any lover of modern cinema. |ret||ret||tab|

"Manhattan" Gorgeous black-and-white film pays homage to the city Allen loves. |ret||ret||tab|

"Take the Money and Run" Early Allen with sight gags and slapstick. |ret||ret||tab|

"Hannah and Her Sisters" Another look at life and love. |ret||ret||tab|

"Crimes and Misdemeanors" Brilliant social commentary.|ret||ret||tab|

"Broadway Danny Rose" Allen plays a down-and-out theatrical agent.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)|ret||ret||tab|

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