Wonder Wheel

Now this was a great film to spoil the mood. I liked that the story was set in the 1950s, only to gradually realize that there would be nothing else to like. The talkative lifeguard got on my nerves from the start, the vast majority of the dialogue was dull, and Ginny was beyond unlikeable. Moreover, the story had a very slow pace, and I was bored. Woody Allen didn't score any points with me this time. (05/07/2018)

In the category of late Allen films, one of the depressing ones, which builds up deliciously to a damn bitter end. It didn't sit entirely well with me, and I was still dealing with my own moral dilemma of whether it's okay to root for Kate Winslet's character. The reason is that despite her considerable faults, Woody portrays her in such a way that the character of Ginny literally screams for some sympathy and understanding, which is hard to resist at one point. A very strong piece of writing, no doubt, but personally I prefer the other pieces from this late Woody. [65%] (23/11/2020)

An over-the-top theatrical extravaganza in the fun atmosphere of 1950s New York, backed by musical bangers of the era, as well as the legendary Coney Island – a gratifying backdrop for countless filmmakers. The content is always on the same note, a poignant story of ordinary people and their ordinary lives full of bits of happiness and disappointment. Kate Winslet lightly digs Cate Blanchett at times, and on the whole she succeeds. Justin Timberlake is again heavy on charisma. But don’t expect anything revolutionary. (04/03/2018)

I'll be honest and admit that I wanted to see this film mainly because of Kate Winslet, whom I really like a lot. I'm definitely not a die-hard Woody Allen fan, although I've seen many of his films, but I still decided to go see Wonder Wheel in the cinema. I also have to admit that I didn't have high hopes for this film, so I couldn't be disappointed, only surprised. In the end, I was treated to a pretty average drama wrapped in a nice 50s retro vibe, with a likeable cast. On the other hand, though, it's all undermined by the script and especially the oddly written characters, with whom you has no chance to form anything but a negative relationship. As I said at the beginning, I really like Kate Winslet, but her Ginny was probably her most irritating character, but she plays really well, making her all the more annoying (hearing a hundred times over the course of the film that she had a migraine and needed Aspirin nearly gave me a migraine). Alongside that, I was expecting some action within the mafia line and the return of the lost daughter, but somehow it all fizzled out at the end. In short, a film that is most damaged by the way it is written, which starts and ends with particularly over-theatrical performances and direction by the actors, it was clearly the intention, but it wasn’t something I wanted as a viewer. (18/01/2018)

I almost want to say that this is a classic Woody Allen film, although this time I found his story really simple and it is saved by the performances, which are excellent in all cases, at least as far as the main roles are concerned. Kate probably stands out the most, but the film doesn't give her the space to really shine as an actress. (15/02/2018)