meeza Woody Allen's latest showcase "Cafe Society" gets the Woody nostalgic fever again and travels back to Los Angeles in the 1930's. Jesse Eisenberg stars as Bobby, a young Jewish New Yorkan who moves to Los Angeles in hopes of finding success. Bobby reaches out to his estranged Hollywood mogul uncle named Phil Stern played by Steve Carell. Initially, Phil is very stern in helping Bobby get a foot in the door, but then he obliges to Bobby's request. There, Bobby falls for the beautiful Stern assistant Vonnie played by Kristen Stewart. Eventually, Bobby then gets caught up in "bizarre love triangle" that doesn't necessarily follow a "new order". Allen does a modest job in helming and scribing the picture, but this not in his elite of his film society bio. None of the performances were striking, but I must say that Stewart does the best work in her career here as Vonnie. I would get in the "Cafe Society" if I were you, but I would not trample anyone in doing so. **** Good

stephanderson As a Woody Allen fan, I tried very hard to like this film, but it failed for me on so many levels. The jokes don't land, the characters aren't very likable, and the acting was too stiff. I think this film is trying hard to be like Woody Allen's older more effortless classics. Major disappointment.

Dennis Littrell I watched this more out of curiosity more than anything else and found it surprisingly good. I was surprised since Woody Allen was 80-years-old when this came out in 2016. It's rare to do such fine work in any artistic endeavor at such an advanced age. Of course the opportunity to direct Kristen Stewart was no doubt an incentive. It could be that Woody wrote this years ago and only decided to turn it into a movie when he got the very talented Vittorio Storaro to do the cinematography. The co-incidence of uncle and nephew (unbeknownst to either one of them) falling in love with the same woman Vonnie (Stewart) was handled skillfully, especially the sequence of events that led to first Phil Stern (Steve Carell) and then Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg ) discovering their surprising rival.In addition to this being a beautiful film with a lot of pleasing 1930's era atmosphere it is also very cleanly directed by the old master. There is no clutter, virtually everything in the plot is necessary and I was pleased with the realistic treatment of love sadly lost, and then the possibility of it being rekindled as an illicit affair, and then… Well, I won't say. See the movie. It's definitely worth watching.One more thing: Kristen Stewart at 26 was as pretty as pretty can be.--Dennis Littrell, author of the movie review book, "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote"

tapio_hietamaki There's not really a 'typical' Woody Allen movie because there are so many of them and they're all so much alike that they're all typical, except maybe 'Match Point'.'Café Society' has its similarities to Allen's other movies, and some dissimilarities, too. The similarities: the protagonist is Jewish, the movie explores identities of cities, there's a love triangle and infidelity, it resembles a stage play, it's a comedy but has some sad material, there's no villain, it stars a beautiful young star (Kristen Stewart joins Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson, Evan Rachel Wood, Hayley Atwell and Christina Ricci as a Woody Allen movie love interest) and it has many unpredictable twists and is rather fast-paced.The dissimilarities are harder to describe. 'Café Society' feels somber, and it leaves much unresolved. It's not a neat little package like many Woody Allen movies are. Typically Woody characters talk way too much. 'Café Society' has things left unsaid. It's a very blue movie (fittingly in color scheme as well).It's about ambitions and priorities, and the winding roads of fate that take us to unexpected places. As usual, Woody Allen takes a setting and situation that seems distant and makes it easy to relate to.Bonus points for the scene with Anna Camp as a prostitute, that whole sequence was absolutely hilarious.