5.0 out of 5 stars A Woody Allen Winner, Highly Recommended

P. · December 28, 2016

While having a somewhat and sometimes uneven plot, this film is captivating, a praiseworthy Woody Allen masterpiece whose brilliance and wit permeate each scene.The period music was a welcome and major plus, well integrated and woven into the evolving storyline.The actors were especially well cast and performed masterfully.The wistful dėnouement of the final scenes is reminiscent of the "We are the choices that we make" meme of Bridges of Madison County, taking stock that our own choices are so often conditioned by and contingent on the choices of others - which are beyond our control.The moral: It is most unwise - and it is predictably tormenting and punishing - to become involved with someone who is involved with someone else. If they are torn, it is their problem, let them work it out. Worse, if they are complicit in a faithless relationship, it is the height of foolishness and arrogance to think that they will not be faithless with you.A Woody Allen winner, highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy Woody Allen's films, don't miss this

J. · January 9, 2017

If you like Woody Allen, you will like this! As he ages, Allen has seemingly become more mature and less slapstick-y in his approach to filmmaking. While this is clearly written by Allen and containing many of his trademark words, styles and attitudes he does not appear in the film at all, another growing trend in his later years. Jesse Eisenberg does a fantastic (almost too good) job at what would have been Allen's protagonist role was he 50 years younger. Eisenberg captures all of the neuroses, awkwardness and discomfort of characters commonly written by Allen so much so that what stands out about his role in this film is not his acting prowess as much as his ability to imitate. He captures the mannerisms, gestures and nervousness strikingly well, but in turn, loses any of his own individual flavor in the process; that is to say he is more Allen than Eisenberg, but so good at it he deserves all the credit. Kristen Stewart does well to continue taking characters which distance her from her shot to stardom through her role in the twilight series. She continues to surprise as her role selection has become more thought out, artsy and character exploring. She does an excellent job conveying the character's arc while maintaining a down to earth and approachable demeanor which never comes across as coy or shallow but heartfelt and mature. Steve Carell, also widening his acting spectrum with more recent dramatic roles, certainly does not disappoint here, as expected. More than the actors and their styles, Allen's films have also grown to show maturity in the way they are shot, lighted and colored. This film, taking place in the Golden age of Hollywood, really shines in these categories. Where many of his earlier films seemed as though they were films about everyday life, shot in every day circumstances, now he tends toward the more dramatic incorporating greater depth to the scenes, liveliness and energy to the palette and eye-catching pop while still being realistic and never allowing designed to steal the scene. Thoroughly enjoyable all the way through, and hopefully indicative of his work to come!

3.0 out of 5 stars meh

H. · January 7, 2021

Such a pretty movie, such good actors, such fascinating milieux: Old Hollywood and Old New York. Two problems: 1) the lead actor consciously or unconsciously is doing a spot-on (though shallow) impersonation of the writer/director throughout, which becomes distracting and repetitive early on; and 2) the film meanders and meanders scene to scene, each scene given yet another classic recording of a tune from the American Songbook -- a device that wears thin here even more than in the director's other films. This is a saga that takes place over several years, yet the lead actor with his impersonation in place of characterization changes not a wit -- not his face, not his voice, not his hair, not his weight, not his tone -- just the same old stammers and twitches the writer/director is famous for. The characters for the most part all speak in the same voice -- in the case of masters like Bernard Shaw or Noel Coward we accept this as part of the ride -- with Woody Allen not so much, because he has not developed it to a high art -- thus it comes off as merely lazy writing, and narcissistic. The writer/director is an autodidact and independent filmmaker famously given total control over his movies -- nobody says no to him about anything except maybe money. When this goes right the result is phenomenal; when it goes wrong you get a promising but flat and mostly pointless underwhelm like this . . .

5.0 out of 5 stars Woody Delivers Again

D.E.B. · October 28, 2016

The thing I admire most about Woody Allen is that he is a great individualistic filmmaker. The fact that he is also a prolific one is a mixed blessing to some. The criticisms are that he repeats himself or that he uses surrogates to deliver his message. For whatever reason his age old themes seem fresh here. I attribute it to terrific storytelling, stellar acting, breathtaking production values that perfectly evoke the Jazz Era. Primarily the jokes are funny and resonate. I like how Allen confronts being a Jew in America. In one hilarious scene Jesse Eisenberg pays a hooker not to have sex with him because she's Jewish. I also liked how Eisenberg's mother played by a superb Jeannie Berlin forgives the murderous ways of her gangster son but is mortified when he has a death row conversion to Christianity. "Café Society" takes its time developing but once it gets its rhythms down you will concede it is among Allen's better works.

descrivete meglio gli articoli che vendete!

G. · September 2, 2019

il dvd è solo in francese, ancora deluso da Bolo

Una gran comedia

M.H. · February 10, 2023

Blu-ray con muy buena imagen y sonido para una gran comedia de Woody Allen. Colores intensos gracias a la gran fotografía del maestro Vitorio Storaro. Muy buen precio y un envío perfecto por parte de Bolo, como siempre.

Great Love Story, great scenery. Wonderful.

S.a.S. · January 6, 2020

Excellent cast, with whole movie narrated by Woody Allen, Kind of a high-society type of movie with really interesting and complex characters and feelings. Steve Carell is superb as Phil Stern, a hollywood Legend wheeler- dealer agent. Jessie Eisenberg shines as Bobby Dorfman, Phol's nephew, who comes to hollywood to work for his uncle Phil. It then goes full-speed as a love story, intertwined with humorous bits featuring Ben, Bobby's brother, who is a gangster. Lovely music throughout, and the two people who were meant to end up with each other, don't quite make it. Many funny comments about religion, politics, and of course, love. This is one of his better ones as he captures the 30's era perfectly Kristen Stewart as Vonnie, is excellent throughout ( love the bow in her hair) and is the perfect love interest for both Phil and Bobbie. Very memorable and interedting, with lots of good quotes.

Enfin une remarquable cuvée !

c. · April 12, 2018

Il est bien vrai que , revoyant actuellement tous les Allen , principalement en blu ray , j'avais le sentiment un peu triste que les films vraiment réussis et aboutis du Maître étaient devenus quand même rares depuis Match Point , déjà lointain ... ( 2005 ! )Mais ce film prouve qu'Allen n' a rien perdu de sa suffocante maitrise , de son flair pour choisir des acteurs encore jeunes , au fort rayonnement et à la forte personnalité : ici , Eisenberg , très à l'aise et dont la palette expressive est large , et Stewart , renversante de glamour , avec son regard extraordinaire et sa voix si belle et sombre ( honte aux malheureux qui s'obstinent à regarder ces films en version française et ne semblent pas se rendre compte de ce qu'ils perdent ! ) .Ces deux acteurs se complètent et s'équilibrent merveilleusement , donnant au film sa pleine charge de tension sexuelle ( très judicieusement , Allen , en vrai Classique , refuse de filmer des scènes d'amour " explicites " , que la quasi totalité de ses collègues tentent et loupent ! ) , de mélancolie et d'émotion , retenue mais poignante .Le reste de la distribution est d'ailleurs excellent , aussi .L'histoire qui est racontée est simple et elle ne revendique pas d'originalité particulière : l'histoire d'une passion amoureuse inaboutie , brisée , dans une large mesure , par les appétits sociaux et l'attrait de la " grande vie " ...Mais le récit se déploie avec une souplesse et une limpidité remarquable .C'est ce grand " fini " qui me semble placer Allen très haut .Les reconstitutions d'une atmosphère d'époque sont impeccables .La bande son comblera tout amateur de jazz " ancien " .Le montage , qui rythme et unifie le film , est celui des Grands : quelle merveilleuse concision dans les meilleurs films d'Allen : une heure trente à peu près lui suffit , le plus souvent !Quel contraste avec certains de nos cinéastes contemporains , à la logorrhée prétentieuse ...!Vers la fin , beau dialogue des parents juifs autour du silence de Dieu , de la peur de la mort , Allen nous donnant ici une nouvelle variation , saisissante , de ce qui rôde depuis longtemps dans ses films : son angoisse , proprement métaphysique .La fin est à tordre les mouchoirs avec ces plans sublimes du réveillon du Nouvel An, si gai-si triste , où les deux amoureux séparés expriment sans paroles , par leurs visages et leurs regards perdus , rêveurs , qu'ils sont passés à côté de quelque chose de capital , que les choix raisonnables n'étaient pas nécessairement les bons et qu'ils devront vivre avec ce regret .L 'édition blu ray est la seule concevable , en 2018 : en effet , elle en met " plein les mirettes " et restitue à la perfection la plénitude et l'éclat des couleurs , dans un véritable feu d'artifice .Pas de bonus mais on s'en fout !

Du cinéma comme on aime !

S. · October 2, 2016

Café Society est une belle surprise. Woody Allen, nous fait plonger dans la vie d'un agent hollywoodien dans les années 30. Le film est bien réalisé et il y a bien une bonne dizaine de personnages qui ont tous leur histoire et leur importance. La bande son très jazzie est la grande star du film, et on prend plaisir à l'écouter dès les premières minutes. Tout cela est très bien réalisé, la narration présente, accompagne idéalement le spectateur qui n'est jamais perdu. Tout cela étant dit, je trouve que le film aurait pu apporter un peu plus d'émotion et ne va jamais finalement au bout des intrigues qu'il présente. C'est le seul reproche que je ferai à un film, très classieux et qui vaut sans aucun doute le détour, ne serait-ce que pour sa forme quasi-parfaite. On en redemande !