Dark Strangers

There was a time that I was a big fan of Woody Allen.  I don't know, I just "got" his humor, and I know that it wasn't everyone's taste. It's very New York, I thought, or the New York that I was falling in love with at that time.  I looked forward to his yearly movie. But then something happened - he got tainted, and it all started with that business with hi marrying his daughter, Soon Yi. After that, or maybe because of that, his artistry became different, in my eyes anyway. Now even when he makes good movies ("Match Point," for example) there just something about them that I just don't appreciate anymore. For example, in Match Point, I couldn't help but think that he gave the role to Scarlett Johannsen because he is lusting after her. What's my point, you ask? Well, I Netflixed "You Will Meet A Tall Dar Stranger" last night and I just didn't like it. On paper, it's a Classic Woody Allen vehicle that would have been perfect for me. And it has great performances, especially from Josh Brolin (who knows exactly how to deliver a Woody Allen line) and Naomi Watts.  However, the whole thing, when put together, fell flat for me. The jokes seemed sophomoric, and the sparkle just wasn't there anymore. Maybe I have outgrown him, maybe my taste has changed, but the Woody I know isn't the same Woody anymore.