HOLLYWOOD ENDING
US, 2002, 112 minutes, Colour.
Woody Allen, Tea Leoni, George Hamilton, Treat Williams, Debra Messing, Mark Rydell.
Directed by Woody Allen.
Listening to Woody Allen, we realise that Hollywood is not his favourite place: there movies are 'conceived in venality'. It sounds as if he prefers Hollywood to end. However, his title is a poke at the happily contrived 'Hollywood ending', where he, as a temperamental and hypochondriac director goes off to France where they have discovered his genius. It's typical Allen, often very funny lines, but sometimes a bit laboured, especially when he is directing his movie after he has gone blind. Despite the strained pieces, it is an amusing take on the movie industry and movie egos. Tara Leoni is one of his strongest leading ladies and Mark Rydell is his ever-optimistic agent.
1. The place of this film in Woody Allen's work, his perceptions of Hollywood from New York City, his links with Hollywood, anti-Hollywood? His comment that Hollywood films are conceived in venality? His critique of the Hollywood films, the industry, the system, the producers, the money-makers, the deals? His criteria for a film's success, film as art?
2. The film as a critique of Hollywood, its mockery, references to other films? A movie movie?
3. The title, Woody Allen and his wanting to end Hollywood? The film and its happy ending, contrived, Ellie going with Val, the French appreciating his genius, his going to live in Paris, going to make a love story there?
4. The picture of Galaxie Studios and the initial meeting, Hal, Ed, the other executives, their discussions and arguments, the nature of movie production, Ellie and her plea for Val to do the film, reasons for and against? The background of her being married to Val? Engaged to Hal?
5. Val Waxman and the Woody Allen persona? Seeing him in Canada freezing, the moose, no crime there, the commercial? His being fired and returning? His relationship with Lori? Age difference? Companion? Her ambitions in the theatre, her performance, his lack of enthusiasm for her skills? Al ringing him about the offer of the film, the necessity for his career, The City That Never Sleeps, a remake of the '50s film? His capacity for directing, his flair, wanting the job? Ellie having persuaded Hal to give it to him? The marital issue and his doubtful reactions?
6. Val and his anger at Hal? Ellie, the meeting with Al, the agreement, the differences, the phone call and his being exhilarated? The restaurant discussion with Ellie and his outbursts while talking about the film and rushing into accusations about her infidelity, the marriage collapse?
7. Val and his temperament, art, the Oscars, his insecurity, hypochondria, marital status, relationship with Lori? The neurotic type portrayed so well by Allen?
8. The preparations for the film, the interviews and auditions with the cast, telling the story to Lori, her wanting a part, her audition and her not being successful and his arguing the case? The irony of meeting Ellie and Hal afterwards at the restaurant, Lori telling everything? The interviews about the décor, the costumes, the colour styles, the reconstruction of sets, the Chinese cameraman and his need for a translator?
9. Val and his suddenly going blind, psychosomatic, ringing Al at his Jewish meal? Al and his optimism, talking Val into continuing with the film, the plan?
10. The work of making the film, pretending to see, his being guided around the set by Al and then by the translator? The joke about "any film could have been directed by a blind man" and the audience seeing it in action? The devices so that people wouldn't know, the reaction of the cast, the cameraman, the translator, the rushes? People's confusion but presuming he was an artist?
11. The cameraman sacking the translator, his desperation, his not losing his work because he was not a film person, Al and his bright idea of telling the truth to Ellie, her disbelief, her wanting to keep the secret and guiding Val during the production?
12. Alexandra Ford and her work with Esquire, her being allowed on the set, her commentary from the article throughout the film, her questions, her adulation of Val and his believing it, Ellie thinking she was poison? The irony of the perfume and Val telling her the whole nightmare and revealing the truth to her?
13. Hal, attitudes, a businessman in the film profession but not knowing anything about it, his relationship with Ellie, his visits to New York, wanting a man-to-man talk with Val and the irony of the slapstick comedy and pratfalls with him being blind, actually seeing the rushes and being dismayed, the public reaction to the film, the critics? The portrait of a businessman with no creativity for film yet shrewd understanding of the production process?
14. Ellie, the strong lead in the film, her relationship with Val, not being able to look after him all the time, leaving him? Arguing for him to be the director? Supporting him, Val pretending to Lori that they had got together again? Her being confronted by Hal, seeing through him? Realising that she had been in love with him all the time, the happy ending and going off to France?
15. Lori, the bimbo, her acting, ambitions, going away to get slim, the audition, her ability to take personal rejection as long as she got the film part?
16. Ed and the presence of George Hamilton on screen, his reputation, his work as producer? Jokes about ageing at his expense?
17. Al, the friendship with Val, his optimism, doing the deal, guiding him in the discussions, being present at the screenings, not allowed on the set, arranging with the translator, then with Ellie so that the film would be complete?
18. The cast in the film, their having difficulty with their performances, the actress and her attempt at seduction? Her interpretation of Val as seeing her when he didn't?
19. Val not going to the wrap party, going to his psychiatrist, the discussion about the film themes and his alienation from his son and never mentioning him, his first wife in Brazil? His decision to see his son, his son changing his name, the rings, the hair, the live rat on stage, the music? The unwitting pomposity of his son? Reconciling with his father?
20. The movie jokes, the business jokes, agents, hypochondria, sex? The overall impact of this Woody Allen film?
