I’m just gonna come out and say it. I like this film. I really, really liked it.
…of course I realise that I am a lone voice in the wilderness on this one. The critics have been lining up to rubbish this tale of two brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) who are cajoled into murder in return for money that will dig them out of their individual financial graves. They have mocked the performances and heaped scorn on the ‘cock-er-ney’ accents. The director, Woody Allen, has been variously described as ‘hitting the rocks’ and ‘putting nails in his own coffin’, one review has even compared the whole enterprise to a weaker episode of EastEnders.
I don’t get it. I really don’t understand what they are talking about. As far as I am concerned Woody Allen is making better films than he has done in ages. Match Point was a cynical, cold and gripping thriller, Scoop (still not released in the UK but available on R1 dvd) was an enjoyable caper with some fine comedy and an engaging mystery and Cassandra’s Dream is even better still.
Yes, I will concede that the London shown bears no resemblance to the real London and that the acting is not naturalistic but using these two points to berate the film are like watching a production of The Dumb Waiter and moaning that Pinter doesn’t write realistic dialogue.
At the end of the day, Cassandra’s Dream will divide viewers into two factions, those that love it and those that hate it. I love it and would be grateful if someone could explain exactly what is so bad…
9/10
