I have been desperately attempting to comprehend my feelings about Café Society for hours, and I really can't. I'll try, of course, but I can't.

From the moment the jazz started playing and the Windsor Light Condensed font bearing the name Café Society popped up on the screen, I felt a sudden ease (keep in mind I had traveled 5 hours to the theater). The opening credits rolled by exactly as we'd expect them to when a circular transition tunneled the audience into the film.

It opens on a gorgeous Los Angeles house wrapped in the blue lighting of the moon. Phil (Steve Carell) pontificates about the latest star he predicted the fame of as others hypocritically mock him for it. Everyone makes their rounds, name dropping and bragging, when Phil has to leave to take his sister's call. What we just witnessed is key to the entire movie: the falsehood of café society.

This is a movie filled to the brim with narrative. Every detail becomes something bigger, every character lives the story they tricked themselves into wanting. For a film less than 90 minutes long, the amount of story in Café Society is amazing. It never feels stuffed, however. Whenever there was a transition into a new or old story, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. One thing I dislike about some of Woody Allen's similar movies is that some stories are always far more entertaining than the others, but I never felt this way about Café Society. Yes, I enjoyed some narratives more than others (besides the main romance, I loved the mob story most), but not so much that I wanted it over other ones.

The transitions between stories were great, too. Editor Alisa Lepselter would use slides, flips, circles, fades (my favorite edit in the entire movie was a fade near the end), and anything else you can imagine, but they always felt natural. In fact, I'd say they were part of the reason I loved it so much! The constant allusion to golden age Hollywood was almost primarily done through these edits, as a matter of fact. There was one scene on a beach with some unnatural cuts, but other than that the cuts were purposeful, meaningful, and seductive.

All the acting is superb, too. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and Corey Stoll gave performances of a lifetime, but the entire ensemble was fantastic together. Steve Carell and Blake Lively were both given one of their best roles to date, and both did wonderfully with them. The chemistry for Bobby's family in the film was just unbeatable, every joke landed beautifully with them. The Los Angeles actors were almost too realistic with the way they talked to each other, perfecting their egos and put-downs, so they were great as well. One of the best television actors, Tony Sirico, received a little cameo, too, and if you knew who he was the scene was a good laugh. This was probably one of Woody's most well-acted movies in a while.

Speaking of Woody Allen, his direction, as always, was brilliant. He's certainly beginning to leave his comfort zone with the elegant blues and striking long lens close-ups; that may be thanks to the real MVP of the film, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, though. Between his resounding lighting and passionate dollies, Storaro shot Café Society in a way that totally engrosses the audience in the upper class world of the 30's. Particularly in LA, the coloring was superb, but there was one shot in particular that I want to talk about for a solely emotional reason...

Woody Allen hasn't made a NY themed picture in ages. He's had some stops in the state, sure, but he hasn't shot it as lovingly as he used to. Well, the first half of Café Society takes place in LA with a few interiors in New York. About halfway into the film, though, when Bobby returns to NY, there is a shot of the New York skyline with Gershwin-esque jazz blaring. When this appeared, it seemed as if the entire theater got chills. In my head I was screaming "he's back, baby!!" It was a moment that where I just experience pure joy.

There's so much more to talk about: the set design, the costumes, the music, but just know that it was all amazing. The only decent thing in the movie is the sound quality of the narration and a few other scenes, but whatever. Just know that everything was excellent.

With that entire review, however, I still haven't properly explained how I felt about the movie. I sat in the theater (both times) in awe of what was on the screen. Everything about the movie just grabbed me, and I can't explain why. I have a legitimate love for Café Society. It was everything I wanted it to be and much more. Honestly, my main complaint with Café Society is that it ended.

Woody Allen's 2016 movie has easily become my favorite of the year so far, and it may just be one of my favorites by him. I can't wait to see it for a third time.



Poster Review

Theatrical Poster: 10/10

International Poster: 7/10