CELEBRITY

US, 1998, 117 minutes, Black and white.
Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Joe Mantegna, Melanie Griffith, Winona Ryder, Charlize Theron, Famke Jansen, Leonardo di Caprio, Hank Azaria, Michael Lerner, Bebe Neuwirth, Gretchen Moll.
Directed by Woody Allen.

Celebrity came immediately after Deconstructing Harry in which Woody Allen took a look at himself and his pretensions as a creative writer. In Celebrity, Kenneth Branagh now stands in as the Allen character, caught up in the celebrity wheel, with a wife, Judy Davis, who had appeared in Husbands and Wives, Alice and Deconstructing Harry, trying to find her life in a retreat and then as a television hostess, Melanie Griffith as a sexy actress, Charlies Theron as a supermodel. Winona Ryder also appears as genuine love. There are guest appearances, especially by Bebe Neuwirth as a hooker instructing Judy Davis on sexual skills and Leonardo di Caprio as a spoilt and wilful superstar.

There is a bitterness about the film, Woody Allen himself having been subjected to scrutiny by the media and critique of his celebrity status. However, there is also much that is acerbic and amusing and Kenneth Branagh is very good at impersonating the Woody Allen-type character. The film was made in black and white. After Celebrity, Woody Allen returned to calmer and more amusing films with Sweet and Lowdown, Small time Crooks and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Hollywood Ending.

1.The film in Woody Allen's canon, his experience, positive and negative? Authentic and phoney? His attack on celebrity? Woody Allen and his age in making the film, his real life experiences, cynical and humorous, coping with life, public and private experiences, neuroses, healing? Celebrity as inconclusive?

2.The film as an equivalent of a Manhattan La Dolce Vita? The brittle surface of American celebrity? Emptiness? Fulfilment?

3.Woody Allen and Lee as his alter-ego, a writer, his barbs, humour, one-liners? Women and sexual relationships? Religion? Psychology and fortune tellers?

4.Black and white photography, the atmosphere of Manhattan? New York City, the suburbs, the country? The range of songs and jazz score?

5.The screenplay as a jigsaw of celebrity encounters? Lee and Robyn as the links? The continuity of the plot, the nature of the episodes? The cumulative effect?

6.Depth and superficiality, superficial America, New York? Woody Allen's mirroring these experiences? The nature of his critique?

7.Kenneth Branagh as Lee and the Woody Allen alter-ego? As a writer, becoming a hack writer? The surface glamorous jobs? His relationship with his wife, leaving her, the angry relationship? His meeting her and discussing the separation, his relationship with Sheila? Watching the filming with the word "help" sky-written? Nicole and her filming, his observing it, the director and his platitudes, the build-up to the interview, the agents? Going to her house, the lady living there giving them grudging permission, going upstairs, the comments on the room? The sexual encounter? His meeting Nora and remembering her from the restaurant? His being attracted by her? The fights with Robyn, the nature of their clash, marrying early, growing away from one another? His going to the fashion show, watching the models, the models and their aura? The tall blonde model, her getting a lift with him, discussions about her sexual potential, going to the arts party and the superficial art scene talk? Dancing, drinking? Going in his car, his being proud of the car, the crash and her wanting to get away? Her concern about her health, the tablets, the basketball player supplying them, getting away from publicity? Lee and his relationship with the editor, the personal relationship and her eventually moving in, social relationship and his work on his screenplay, on his novel? Her encouraging him, taking him to receptions, his discussions with the writers - and the reviewer who panned his work and his fainting? His trying to interest people in his screenplay - especially Nicole? Going to the film's screening, meeting Robyn, her drinking and her behaviour, the clash during the film? Parties, meeting Nora again, deciding to leave the editor for her? The editor and her anger, his having worked on the novel, taking the manuscript, scattering the pages from the ferry? His moving in with Nora, his age difference, going to the rehearsals, being suspicious of the director? The encounter with the celebrity star, his trashing his room, his discussion about the screenplay and liking it? The sex and the four in the bed, the drinking, going to Atlantic City in the plane, the gambling, Lee losing his money - and the actor asking him for paying it back? Finally going to the premiere of Nicole's film, the encounter with Robyn? The contrast between the two at the end of the film? What had he achieved in himself, career, relationships? Lee as a celebrity Zelig being deconstructed?

8.Robyn and the contrast with Lee? Our first seeing her on the retreat, neurotic, angry at Lee? Marrying young? Her love, resentment? Her picking at her food at the retreat centre, her friends and their support, angers? Catholicism and sexuality and inhibitions? On the retreat, meeting the priest, discussions of themes? The irony of her being asked what she thought about during oral sex and answering, "The Crucifixion"? Her friend wanting her to have a makeover, the plastic surgeon and his busyness and entourage? The TV team, the producer seeing her and telling her how wonderful she looked (before she had any treatment)? Her response? Her erratic response to him and yet flattered? Going to meet his family and their niceness? Going to the movie preview, drinking, seeing Lee and being abusive out loud? Psychological help? Her fears in relationship? The proposal, the wedding and her disappearing, wandering the streets, going to the fortune teller and then being able to accept the marriage? Going to work at the TV station, making a mess of everything, the Ku Klux Klan and the Rightist groups with the Jews, the skinheads, the professor wanting special treatment, the short people, the prostitutes? Her becoming a hostess and her celebrity interviews at the restaurant, discussions about architecture, renting homes, marriages, Donald Trump? The celebrities and their chatter? Her finally going to the movie preview, her being more poised and the encounter with Lee? Her worry about becoming the kind of woman that she despised?

9.The women in Lee's life - as perceived by Woody Allen and Lee? Nicole and her being the film star, glamour, memories, sexuality? The model on the catwalk, socialising, sexual aura? The editor as able, charming, socially apt, her art world, her being vengeful? Nora and her age, wealth, working as an extra, the restaurant, wanting to be an actress, the anger and the separation from Lee?

10.The TV producer as a nice and good man, attracted to Robyn, sharing with her, his kind words? Taking her to the film preview, taking her to meet his family and everybody wanting to get benefits from him, depending on him? The remarks of his mother and father, grandfather? Giving Robyn the job, his supporting her no matter what the mess, the sexual encounter in his office? The wedding, his dignity, searching for her, with the guests? His accepting and loving her, the finale at the movie premiere?

11.The callgirl and her going to the TV station, Robyn deciding to visit her, her manner and personality, the discussion about sexuality, her frankness, Robyn and her inhibitions and explanations, the questions about oral sex, the banana demonstration, her choking? Sexuality and humour?

12.Leonardo di Caprio as the spoilt celebrity actor, his performance, relationships and treatment of the young woman, drugs, sex - four in the bed, interesting contracts, rewrites? Taking the plane, Lee and his adulation? The gambling and wanting the money from Lee? His entourage? Dissipated but tough and practical?

13.Robyn's friend at the retreat, helping her, her own experience? The priests - the celebrity, the fans, the priest trying to help Robyn? The religious junk art and its exaggerations? The Catholic dimension of Robyn's character?

14.Her friend taking her to the plastic surgeon, his expertise, celebrity, the range of people and clients, the faces? The television program and the commentary?

15.The framework of the film with "Help" being written in the sky? The film, the director, the actress? The transition then to the premiere, Nicole and her husband, Lee, Robyn and her husband, "Help" still in the sky while life goes on?

16.Woody Allen's perceptions on the nature of celebrity, fame, glamour, being well known? The demands of celebrity on the celebrities? Celebrities and their demands? Taking celebrity to their heads? A portrayal and a critique?