The best thing about this is the banter, mostly 1-way, with Allen doing most of his neurotic-schtick, playing off of Turturro's more measured, thoughtful, considering characterization. It works beautifully, making me wonder how it would have been if we just spent the entire duration with these guys for the entire runtime instead, more like a road movie. We'll never know now, but I might have been able to re-watch that. Not so this.
One of the first things I noted, analyzing the list of censored sequences, was that there were shots of 'bare boobies' removed. Now, I don't go into a John Turturro movie for bare boobies, but considering the subject material, nee, the title itself, nudity, intact, would have better served the viewing experience.
Performance-wise, Turturro has been better, but he does himself a disservice by not giving his own character any kind of an arc. However, the supporting roles fare much better, and he makes them all play to their strengths, and some of the funniest material comes from Stone, Vergara, Schrieber (a tad weaker) and, of course, Allen himself.
The 2 endings were also not needed, with absolutely no need for the one that precedes the other, going completely against the characterization setup for Vanessa Paradis, and her character's interactions with Turturro's lead. Zero payoff. The one tacked on after seems like Turturro's apology-of-sorts to the discerning viewer.
The whimsical and farcical parts of the movie did not work for me at all, because of so little being done to warrant the need for such sequences. They are so out of place that it seemed like the first one ended and another movie began, and then Wham, it finished too soon.
The score, though, is something else entirely. Filled with eclectic compositions from all over (Europe), it elevates the viewing experience, and the movie's all the better whenever someone is belting something ethereal out, in tracks with vocals, as well as those that are instrumental in nature.
A lot is gonna be said about how Allen has gone away from his comfort zone, but IMO, he has not, not in terms of role or characterization - he sticks to his safe zone. Allowing Turturro the wield the directing reins is all that's different about his 'experiment'. However, I do hope he expands his acting range, whether or not he wields the megaphone.
In all fairness, worth 1 trek to the multiplex. I also don't think that watching the uncensored theatrical cut in all its glory would have made much of a difference to my opinion.
One of the first things I noted, analyzing the list of censored sequences, was that there were shots of 'bare boobies' removed. Now, I don't go into a John Turturro movie for bare boobies, but considering the subject material, nee, the title itself, nudity, intact, would have better served the viewing experience.
Performance-wise, Turturro has been better, but he does himself a disservice by not giving his own character any kind of an arc. However, the supporting roles fare much better, and he makes them all play to their strengths, and some of the funniest material comes from Stone, Vergara, Schrieber (a tad weaker) and, of course, Allen himself.
The 2 endings were also not needed, with absolutely no need for the one that precedes the other, going completely against the characterization setup for Vanessa Paradis, and her character's interactions with Turturro's lead. Zero payoff. The one tacked on after seems like Turturro's apology-of-sorts to the discerning viewer.
The whimsical and farcical parts of the movie did not work for me at all, because of so little being done to warrant the need for such sequences. They are so out of place that it seemed like the first one ended and another movie began, and then Wham, it finished too soon.
The score, though, is something else entirely. Filled with eclectic compositions from all over (Europe), it elevates the viewing experience, and the movie's all the better whenever someone is belting something ethereal out, in tracks with vocals, as well as those that are instrumental in nature.
A lot is gonna be said about how Allen has gone away from his comfort zone, but IMO, he has not, not in terms of role or characterization - he sticks to his safe zone. Allowing Turturro the wield the directing reins is all that's different about his 'experiment'. However, I do hope he expands his acting range, whether or not he wields the megaphone.
In all fairness, worth 1 trek to the multiplex. I also don't think that watching the uncensored theatrical cut in all its glory would have made much of a difference to my opinion.