By Emilio Frenk
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Steve Carrell, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, Jeannie Berlin, Parker Posey, Ken Stott and Blake Lively.
Rating: Excellent
Woody Allen is back again at the big screen, which has been a common habit and he does it with “Café Society” and I have to say that this is one of the best of movies of this year.
Set in the early days of Hollywood, The story centers in Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg) a young native from New York who moves to Los Angeles determined to make a big break in the movie industry.
He goes to his Uncle Phil Stern (Steve Carrell) a powerful agent who ends up helping him which will lead to meet with his Secretary Veronica “Vonnie” (Kristen Stewart) and immediately there is a connection between them leading to a strong romance.
The major conflict happens when Bobby finds out that Vonnie had and still has an affair with his Uncle.
This move makes him to go back to New York and forget about the movie industry and be involved in the night club world and partners with his thug brother Ben played brilliantly by Corey Stoll from the show “House of Cards” and forgetting once and for all the sharade of the movie industry.
Like in most of Woody Allen movies there is always the Love Traingle Conflict and here is no different. That is why it makes him one of the most influential filmmakers and no one does it better than him.
One of things that I loved about “Café Society” was how Allen told the world of the movie industry and how was it told back in the early days and he does it beautifully and it works at every single level.
The performances he got from the cast specially from Kristen Stewart who I have to say that I didn´t have any expectations, she did a really good job and gave one remarkable perfomance and perhaps the best of her career so far.
I´ve always stated that Woody Allen is a unique storyteller and he did a fantastic film after his previous films “Irracional Man” and “Magic in the Moon Light” were a huge dissapointment. This is the Woody Allen most fans love to see and he is back on the game.
Without a doubt this movie can nail a few Academy Award Nominations next year, specially in the “Best Original Screenplay” Category.
I give “Café Society” a huge recommendation and for Woody Allen fans you will not be dissapointed with this one. I guarantee you that.