CASSANDRA'S DREAM
UK, 2007, 109 minutes, Colour.
Colin Farrell, Ewan Mc Gregor, Tom Wilkinson, Hayley Atwell, Sally Hawkins, Phil Davis, Clare Higgins.
Directed by Woody Allen.
Cassandra was the Trojan prophet of doom – and nobody believed her. While there is a yacht in this film called Cassandra’s Dream, this is a Woody Allen comedy/drama about dreams and hopes dashed by doom.
Woody Allen has been having a very bad press in recent years. While his first film made in England, Match Point, was well received elsewhere, British reviewers were harsh on it. They were even worse, those who saw it, because his next film Scoop was not released there despite a cast led by Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. Both of these were about murder. So is Cassandra’s Dream.
The film focuses on two brothers, Ewan Mc Gregor and Colin Farrell, who seem to be living fairly ordinary lives in London. Their uncle (Tom Wilkinson) returns from the US and draws on family loyalty to get them to get rid of a rival. Neither of them are born killers but the film goes on to show how differently (and unexpectedly) they react to what they have done. One finds some kind of fulfilment in the murder, the other is plagued by guilt and bad dreams. It is interesting to see how Mc Gregor and Farrell play against previous type-casting, especially Colin Farrell.
While there are a number of Woody Allenisms, this is Allen with his interest in murder and conscience, not just in his British films but in others like Crimes and Misdemeanours and Manhattan Murder Mystery. This film gets by on its cast more than on Allen’s writing.
1. Woody Allen's work? Comedy? Serious themes? His third film in Britain? Murder in a comic setting?
2. The world of London, the different worlds, the affluent, the working class, the theatre, Hammersmith Bridge, the Brighton excursion, on the water? The Philip Glass score?
3. The title, the race winner, the boat, Cassandra and her prophecies of doom - unable to help herself but speak the truth? Truth and doom? Terry as Cassandra?
4. The comic background, the family sequences, the meal? The bonds between the two brothers? The bickering of the parents? Their hopes, issues of money, reliance on Uncle Howard? Plans? The romantic background for each of the men?
5. The tragedy, the pressure, personal flaws, moral decisions, the moral criteria - amoral, selfish? False loyalties? The logic of the false loyalties?
6. Woody Allen and the murder theme, in so many of his films? This murder as callous, the attitudes of the two young men, their various plans, the need for money, the planning, the weapons, the attempt in the house and their having to escape, the murder in the street? The consequences? Ian and his continuing success, spending money? Plans to go to Los Angeles? The contrast with Terry, consumed with guilt, his
health, dependency on alcohol and pills, his relationship with his wife, his dreams, the need to confess, the discussions with Ian, his anguish?
7. The buying of the boat, the plans, the money, Terry and his lucky streaks, his seeming losses and then wins? Enjoying the boat? Going out with the two women? Ian and his ambitions with the boat? His land deals, the Los Angeles hotels? Helping his father, his father's illness, working at the restaurant, odd hours, not wanting to stay there? Terry and the cars, Ian borrowing them? The development of the needs for money?
8. Terry and Kate, the bonds between the two, at home? Ian and the girl from the restaurant, taking her out, sexual relationship - and dumping her? Angela and the breakdown, Ian fixing the car, going to the play, attracted, going out, her world, the theatre people, the dates, the parties? Her going to LA with him? The relationship?
9. The mother, her bickering with the father, the father and his being long-suffering, his criticisms of Howard? Howard and his wealth, success, plastic surgery in Hollywood, institutions in China? His supporting the family, coming for Dorothy's birthday, the boys wanting to talk to him, under the trees in the rain, his proposition about the murder? His pressure on them? Callous and unfeeling? His not wanting to do anything directly? The later impact on him? His concern? Discussions with Ian about Terry's death?
10. Mark Burns, his principles, exposing Howard, at the party, his personality, his wife, meeting Ian and Terry? Their attempt to kill him at home, his coming in, not alone? Their escape? Their killing him quietly in the street?
11. The consequences for Ian, his work, his spending, handling the situation? The background of taking his father's money and indications about his stances? The discussion about the consequences for Terry, the discussion about God and his non-existence? His prospering, with Angela, the parties? Terry and his deterioration, the visits, Kate and her concern, his stating that he had phoned the police? His nights and nightmares?
12. The decision to go out on the boat, the contrast with the two women shopping, having the beers, Ian preparing the poison but not following through, the fight, Ian's death? Seeing the boat, the information about Terry's suicide? The ending and the audience's moral judgments on all the characters?
13. Woody Allen and theatre and cinema, LA gossip, theatre and plays, critics? The discussions about tragedy within comedy?
