Subculture Media

Summary: Director Woody Allen once again assembles an all-star cast including Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Josh Brolin for his comedy of two couples who find their lives turned upside down by unfulfilled longings. Alfie (Hopkins) is the husband of Helena (Gemma Jones) and the father of Sally (Watts). Sally’s marriage to Roy (Josh Brolin) is in jeopardy after she falls for Greg (Antonio Banderas). Both father and daughter find themselves running away from their romantic problems.

Year: 2013

Australian Cinema Release Date: 17th January, 2013

Australian DVD Release Date: TBA

Country: USA, Spain

Director: Woody Allen

Screenwriter: Woody Allen

Cast: Roger Ashton-Griffiths (Jonathan), Antonio Banderas (Greg), Ewan Bremner (Henry Strangler), Josh Brolin (Roy), Pauline Collins (Cristal), Anna Friel (Iris), Anthony Hopkins (Alfie), Celia Imrie (End Wicklow), Neil Jackson (Alan), Theo James (Ray), Gemma Jones (Helena), Alex Macqueen (Malcolm Dodds), Zack Orth (Narrator), Jim Piddock (Peter Wicklow), Freida Pinto (Dia), Lucy Punch (Charmaine), Naomi Watts (Sally), Fenella Woolgar (Jane)

Runtime: 98 mins

Classification:M

Dave Griffiths’s ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stanger’ Review: 

Poor old Woody Allen (To Rome With Love, Midnight In Paris) while directing the brilliant ‘Midnight In Paris’ resurrected his career and once again reminded the world of the fact that he is a filmmaking genius but it has also cast a shadow of everything he has released ever since. See you make a masterpiece and nothing else quite equals it.

‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger’ was actually made before ‘Midnight In Paris’ but is only just surfacing in Australia now, and to be honest it is a pretty good romantic drama but it is nowhere near as good as ‘Midnight In Paris’.

The film’s plot follows two couples. Firstly there is Helena (Gemma Jones – The Lady Vanishes, TV’S Death In Paradise) and Alfie (Anthony Hopkins – 360, Thor) who have just become divorced after Alfie went through an old-age crisis and decided he was too young for Helena… when actually he is just refusing to admit that he is growing old.

Now Helena is trying to get her life back on track after a failed suicide attempt by listening to everything that so-called medium, Cristal (Pauline Collins – Quartet, Albert Nobbs) is telling her. Meanwhile Alfie is leaking money like there is no tomorrow in a bid to impress his younger bride, escort and sometimes actress Charmaine (Lucy Punch – Stand Up Guys, Yellow).

Then there is Helena and Alfie’s daughter Sally (Naomi Watts – Two Mothers, Movie 43) who is married to frustrated writer Roy (Josh Brolin – Gangster Squad, Men In Black 3). While neither would admit the love went out of their marriage a long time ago and now Roy is stimulated by next door neighbor Dia (Freida Pinto – Immortals, Black Gold) while Sally is developing feelings for her boss Greg (Antonio Banderas – Ruby Sparks, Haywire).

If you think you’ll settle into watching ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger’ and laugh away at Woody Allen’s usual witty comedy think again! Here Allen takes a trip down the romantic drama path and it has to be said that it works quite well. The fact that Allen has brought his usual style of characterisation to the film is what makes it work so well. Each character is unique and you are quickly drawn to them.

As a film ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stanger’ does twist and wind its way through the characters’ lives but it is not an aimless journey instead it seems as though Allen is using the film to take a fair swipe at love, suggesting that the illusion of love is better than love itself. It may be a little cynical but Allen’s good script really allows him to make a powerful statement.

As usual Allen has put together a stellar cast and once again they deliver for him. Naomi Watts as usual does a great job while it’s good to see Josh Brolin shrug off some of the cornier roles that he has done recently. It is also good to see Anthony Hopkins also take on a role where he can once again show that he can be a dramatic actor without having to go down the ‘evil’ path.

Yes ‘You Will Meet A Talk Dark Stranger’ is nowhere near as good as ‘Midnight In Paris’ but it is still a worthy romantic drama to check out.

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger′: Check Episode #16 of our The Good The Bad The Ugly Podcast for a more in-depth review of ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger’. Dave’s other review of ‘You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger’ can be found on the Helium Entertainment Channel

Rating: 3.5/5

IMDB Rating: