Cafe Society is the latest film by director Woody Allen. Some people hear a film is by Woody Allen and feel excited. Others hear a film is by Woody Allen and feel dread. I tend to be the latter but for my dear readers I go into these things with an open mind.
Jesse Eisenberg plays a young man from New York, Bobby Dorfman, with ambitions of being a mover and shaker in Hollywood. His one connection there is his uncle Phil, played by Steve Carell, who is a Hollywood movie industry power broker. Both perform really well in this film, along with leading ladies Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively.
Bobby makes his way to Hollywood and eventually uncle Phil starts to throw him a bone and he makes some progress in being a player in the film industry himself. But these things are never straight forward, in work and in lurve. Won't say more in the interests of not spoiling.
For me, this film isn't tortured and dull Woody Allen, but it's also not excellent and at-his-best Woody Allen. I enjoyed this more than I expected to but the storyline is just nice, not fascinating or clever or funny.
So in summary, Cafe Society is pleasant enough, but can't say I'd recommend you race out for it. Perhaps one for a night in on DVD/digital.
Here's a New York Times review I'm down with, if you want to read more. Trailer here.
In cinemas Thursday 20 October.