Wonder Wheel

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)

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)

Woody Allen again wrote it and filmed it himself, and I enjoyed it again. The well-arranged retro story with great actors (Kate Winslet and Jim Belushi are simply amazing) offers a familiar plot, but that doesn't mean that it can't surprise or that it lacks unforgettable moments (the phone call). The extra colorful retro camera initially goes well with the plot, but then it gradually begins to contrast sharply with it, which is a great idea, and I really liked the simple but impressive metaphor with a little pyromaniac who, like his mother, just can't help it. (06/01/2018)

There are a few (and really not many more than a few) amusing moments in Wonder Wheel, but seriously, this is not a comedy, but rather an inaccessible relationship drama in the spirit of Eugene O'Neill's plays. Just as the main female protagonist is torn between her boorish husband and an unreliable lover, the entirety of Wonder Wheel is in conflict between a dazzling visual aspect with extremely kitschy compositions and golden light-infused shots and the sad stories of unhappy characters (which are in defiance of the deliberately unnatural retro stylisation, which gives the impression that the characters are moving about in theatrical scenery). I enjoyed the unintentional (?) overlap of two incompatible styles more than the banal relationship mishaps, diffident acting performances, dialogue written without wit or humour and the rigid directing (the proven shot/countershot technique in dialogue scenes, which comprise approximately 98% of the film, is only rarely supplanted by a longer shot with a more sophisticated intra-shot montage). The saddest thing is that this is clearly not a film by a talentless filmmaker. He primarily gives the impression of being terribly lazy, avoiding the effort to pull more out of himself. Again, the work of a tired artist from which the viewer will also walk away feeling tired. 50% (07/09/2019)

At first, I admittedly wasn't thrilled with the subject matter of this new Allen film - the 1950s at Coney Island? And with Kate Winslet? However, in the end I was satisfied, as I have been so many times when Allen has made a retro film. Wonder Wheel is narrated by a young Justin Timberlake (and he's surprisingly very good), his counterpart is an aging Jim Belushi (unsurprisingly great, since he's been one of those who’s been great for years), and in between are two women, the aforementioned Winslet as an aging actress out of work and Juno Temple as a blonde bimbo in trouble. Wonder Wheel can thus spin boldly with all those typical attributes. There are numerous references to pop culture, there is intensified love of cinema and theater, a lot of quotes from O'Neill's plays, and of course fate in the sense of ancient dramas. It's nothing new or surprising from Allen, but once again it's a very enjoyable experience. There is undeniable value in being reunited with interesting dialogue, meaningfully constructed twists and turns, and authentic production design that few productions around the world actually dabble with to such an extent. The atmosphere is magical and almost tangible, pleasantly cool in the rain and hot in the sultry summer. I really hope the scandal of 2018 doesn't spell Allen's untimely demise. His late films are more exceptional every year, which is especially evident when confronted with the many new superficial films of today. (15/05/2019)