Sweet and Lowdown
95 minutes Sony Pictures Classics starring Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman, Brian Markinson, Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol, Vincent Guastafero, John Waters, James Urbaniak
written and directed by Woody Allen
Few filmmakers have the courage and honesty to openly portray their psyche, flawed as it may be, in their films. Woody Allen, among other things, is one of these filmmakers. In each one of his brilliant character studies, there is more than a bit of self-deprecation; never too subtle to recognize.
And watching `Sweet And Lowdown', his wonderful new film, it's not hard to see why subtlety isn't his main priority. What makes his films so entertaining is that he is the poster-boy for modern American, middle-aged (and dare I say Jewish) neurosis, and not the least bit ashamed of it. `Sweet And Lowdown', Allen's 32nd feature film, is highly enjoyable, funny and unpredictable.
It is his first movie which characterizes his well-publicized infatuation with jazz music.
In the film, Woody's alter ego is Emmet Ray (Sean Penn); `the second greatest guitarist in the world,' and quite proud of it. Emmet's story is told `mockumentary' style; narrated by Woody Allen and other noted jazz aficionados. He is a fine musician, but a flawed character; one so self-involved that his only companionship is found in a mute woman named Hattie (Samantha Morton, in a dazzling performance), who listens but never retorts.
This amusing relationship makes up the core of the film, and it works very well thanks in part to Sean Penn's over-the-top antics. But it is Samantha Morton, who has appeared in a few British productions, who steals the show with her silent vulnerability. She utters not a single line, yet she is a shoo-in (at least in my book) for a handful of awards.
`Sweet And Lowdown' is otherwise an entertaining series of occurrences in Emmet Ray's lifetime, which includes living out his favorite pastime (shooting rats at a garbage dump), and a chance meeting with Django Reinhardt (the greatest guitarist in the world, according to Emmet). The film's light tone is more like `Radio Days' than `Crimes And Misdemeanors'.
Many will say that `Sweet And Lowdown' is too slight to be a comic triumph, but I enjoyed every minute, which was probably the filmmakers' intention. The superb supporting cast includes Uma Thurman, Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol and James Urbaniak (from `Henry Fool', which was indeed a comic triumph), all of whom shine in small roles.
Woody Allen is back at peak form, doing what he does best without offending anybody. With so many `edgy' films being made as a new wave of filmmaking approaches, it's nice to see that some still `make ‘em like they used to.'
It's also interesting to point out that Woody Allen may be the hardest working artist in film today. I'd be hard-pressed to name another who puts out a film every year. But Woody does it, and he does it well. What makes Allen one of the most talented filmmakers of the century is that he realizes, as others should, that true inspiration can only be found within oneself.
a review by Akiva Gottlieb akiva@excite.com http://pictureshow.8m.com
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