(Review originally written at 25 May 2009) This is a Woody Allen I wouldn't mind seeing more. It's a kind of an absurd and surrealistic comedy, set in the future. The comedy is done in the same style as the earlier Allen movie "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask". I surely wouldn't had minded it if Allen had done some more movies such as this one during his career. The movie is basically the one absurd situation after the other. It's concept, that puts the entire movie in the future of the year 2173, provides the movie with plenty of material for the movie its comical situations. The movie is often absurd and quite simplistic but it makes it all the more fun to watch it all. Allen shows his true comedy talent with this movie, in which he plays his character perhaps in a Charlie Chaplin kind of way. The movie also often has some slapstick moments in it, which works out well for the overall tone of the movie. The movie is just a bit too simplistic with its story though for my taste. It relies purely on its silliness and not really on any development. Like I said before, the movie is basically the one comical situation after the other but without much story to it. I wished the movie is more like a whole at times and would had put some more effort in its main plot-line. The movie its comedy itself is quite strong enough alone to carry the entire movie. And nor is Allen's acting, that is fun but is not quite yet the typical style we know from him. The movie is good looking though, with its fine looking futuristic sets and costumes, that are often looking ridicules but that of course was exactly the point of it. It was fun to see how in 1973 they would thought the distant future would look like. A fun silly comedy, that is watchable for everyone, even when you're not a Woody Allen fan. 7/10 Watch trailer
This drama was a surprising good one. The story might sound over-dramatic and sappy but the execution of it all is surprising good. The director chooses an approach with lots of humor present. It makes "Marvin's Room" a well balanced drama that despite its heavy subject never feels overdone- or gets too heavy to watch.
It's sort of too bad that this movie is always sort of regarded to as a Leonardo DiCaprio-flick. Its a movie from the period when he wasn't a well known male Hollywood lead yet. The mainstream audience had yet to discover him, which they did a year later with "Titanic", while certain smaller groups of movie viewers already discovered this great young talent in movies such as "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "The Quick and the Dead" and "Romeo + Juliet". This movie however deserves so much more than just being regarded as as a Leonardo DiCaprio-flick. I'm sure of the fact that this movie is regarded as such, scares lots of people of from watching this movie (mainly "Titanic" haters). Yes, Leonardo DiCaprio is in the movie but no he doesn't play the main lead, or a pretty boy, which he more often did in his later movies, which are the reason why he also has so many haters all over the world. So really, if you're not a fan of DiCaprio's later movies (after 1997) you'll most likely still enjoy this movie. So please, just give this movie a chance, it's certainly worth it.
I was not sure what to expect from this movie. The story sounded over-dramatic. It's the sort of story were one problem is not enough. Basically every characters has several problems and issues. A movie like this can easily go over-the-top or it can get too sappy and overdone. I'm glad to say that the movie however surprised me and surpassed my expectations. Because of the fact that the movie is told with quite some humor, it doesn't make the movie an heavy one. Sure, there are plenty of dramatic scene's still present in the movie but it all is extremely well balanced all. It never gets too heavy but it also never gets too humorous either. It makes both the drama and the humor work out really well in the movie.
It also certainly helps the movie that there are lots of stars present in it. They make the characters and events feel more likely and realistic. Meryl Streep is perhaps one of the best actresses of all time, although this role is certainly not her best one but I think that says more about Streep herself rather than her performance in this movie. Of course Diane Keaton is no light-weight either. She delivers a powerful performance. Also Leonardo DiCaprio shows that he is more than just a pretty face. A smaller role is there for Robert De Niro. It's the sort of role basically everyone could play and it doesn't make a very big or lasting impression, so don't expect much of him when watching this movie. The only reason why he plays a small role in this movie is because he also was one of the producers for this movie.
But if you take away all those great actors, would this still had been such a good movie to watch? I don't think so. At certain moments while watching this movie I even wondered why all those famous actors ever agreed to be in this movie. I think that the movie had some great casting persons and some powerful, influential producers. It probably also had to do with the director Jerry Zaks who was a very successful award winning Broadway director prior to this movie. (Perhaps he also had already worked with some of the stars out of this movie?) But really, the story on its own is not good or powerful enough to carry the entire movie or make it an incredible interesting or emotional powerful one. So on its own, the movie is a pretty empty and formulaic one but it is made interesting, good and powerful thanks to the wonderful cast and refreshing directing and approach by Jerry Zaks.
Of course this movie is mainly for the lovers of drama movies but everyone should be able to appreciate and enjoy this movie thanks to its approach of the heavy themes and the professional cast playing the characters.
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