Cassandra’s Dream (2007/Genius/Weinstein DVD)
Picture: B- Sound: C Extras: D Film: C
Woody
Allen has been in a dark mood lately; that is in his films he has made overseas
of late, often dealing with murder, betrayal, happenstance, irony and human
nature. There is even dark comedy in
parts, but even someone as savvy as Allen can stretch himself thin and that is
what happens with Cassandra’s Dream
(2007) about two brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) who dream of being
rich and happy. This is signified by
them buying a boat, but when their rich uncle (Tom Wilkinson) gets into
trouble, they decide to help him out.
Unfortunately,
it involves murdering a witness who could send him to prison for life or maybe
even worse. Should they kill to help him
and themselves? The money is tempting
and they still have girlfriends, old neighborhood friends and a lie to juggle
if they do. Allen wrote this of course
and he may be trying to make some ironic observations, but it is nothing new
and even with a great supporting cast and fine locations that give you a sense
of being there, it never adds up to anything like Allen’s best serious works.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image looks good, stylized and with fine
compositions throughout, as lensed by the great Director of Photography Vilmos
Zsigmond, A.S.C., adding up to another one of the Weinstein’s impressive DVD
transfers of late. The Dolby Digital 3.0
mix is average at best, as Allen continues to amusingly be the last major
director holding out to release his films only monophonically. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
