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Café Society

Café Society

2016
Romance, Comedy
1h 36m
A young man arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry. There, he falls in love, and finds himself swept up in the vibrant café society that defined the spirit of the age. (imdb)
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Café Society

2016
Romance, Comedy
1h 36m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 40.77% from 1106 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1106)
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Rated 10 Aug 2016
55
29th
Allen still has the ability to surprise, but this a dull affair. However, there is something comforting in even Allen's worst films, like being visited by an old friend. Eisenberg is a suitable Allen stand-in, but I still don't understand the appeal of Stewart.
Rated 25 Jul 2016
70
54th
Glitz looking for a story to swadle. Visually, one of Allen's best, including the music. But the script walks an inscrutably fine line between sit-com and the melancholy that leaves you hanging in the end.
Rated 12 Jan 2017
40
19th
Woody Allen has a drawer. Each year he opens it and pulls up a script. I hope that he has some fresh material left in it, because this was really stale stuff. With great cinematography.
Rated 17 Jul 2016
60
10th
Viewed July 15, 2016. Cafe Society succumbs to all of present-day Woody Allen's most common filmmaking issues. It's centered around a boring ensemble, the dialogue is leaden, and whatever sense of humor he used to have has all but evaporated. You can see the cogs turning and turning and failing to bring all of the elements together. All that being said, it is Allen's most visually agile and expressive film in quite some time. Maybe he'll go somewhere interesting next.
Rated 14 Aug 2019
73
32nd
While the usual Allen-isms are in place (he continues to direct his leading men to act like him; ethical questions are considered & everyone cheats), it's unclear what he's going for here. While it's interesting to see a world where Jews are viewed differently the presence of a mob boss suggests he's trying for Crimes & Misdemeanors 2 but there's no philosopher to tie the disparate stories together. & the lovers longing for one another feels false: in Allen's world they'd have grown apart anyway
Rated 11 Sep 2016
70
54th
Easy going, old-fashioned romance with lush photography and good dialogue that effortlessly captures the feeling of the romantic comedies of a bygone era. Certainly not original, and fewer one-liners than premium Allen for sure, but it's a quality package nevertheless. Your mileage may vary with regard to the leads.
Rated 20 Aug 2018
5
22nd
Middling Allen, but Storaro goes a long way. So, it's watchable.
Rated 11 Sep 2016
30
22nd
"To what extent, Allen began wondering, audibly, can the mandates of morality really apply to the messiness of human life? To what extent are cheating--and betrayal--and murder--and abuse--wrong? To what extent must they be punished? To what extent can they be justified? If there's a through line to Allen's recent work, it is a deep--almost morbid--curiosity about what, precisely, a person can get away with." (pluggedin.com)
Rated 31 Jul 2016
7
67th
Even though Allen is by no means one of the great actors, I think the feeling that his new movies have lost his "touch" is only true in the sense that he no longer stars in them, and we miss him. Jesse Eisenberg is no replacement and neither are the actors that came before him. That being said, I still find Allen's writing to be thoughtful, funny, and clever. This was clearly made with care and wit. Plus, the cinematography is gorgeous. Loved the bittersweet ending, too.
Rated 31 Dec 2016
61
29th
There is a lesson here: if no one's talking about the new Allen movie and there are no nominations, don't watch it. It's the same, many times told story; nothing new.
Rated 10 Dec 2016
55
44th
Ends half way through. I was like "what? That's it?". I guess time flies when you're having fun, and it doesn't feel like an hour and a half have passed. On the other hand, the narrative structure wants a climax and there is none.
Rated 04 Aug 2017
55
53rd
The line about Socrates may be the highlight and conveys the melancholic tone the film seems intended to capture.
Rated 14 Jan 2017
56
42nd
What Cafe Society lacks in substance, it makes up for in spades with style. The production design, costuming, and the incredibly warm cinematography all do wonders and make the film very inviting and charming. The performances are generally decent, with Eisenberg and (surprisingly) Kristen Stewart being my favorites. The characters, however, can seem a bit flat at times, as they all fill somewhat typical stereotypes. The ending does make the film more satisfying, but it still has its problems.
Rated 06 Mar 2017
45
6th
Once the king of NY celluloid, Allen phones in this east meets west misfire. Set in the 1930s the mostly dull story masquerades as something more interesting, while its two-dimensional protagonists are overwhelmed by the weight of his valium-induced narration, not to mention their own boredom. Eisenberg's predictable impersonation fails to recapture past Woody glories, Stewart plays her usual sleep depraved self under girlie garb, while Carrell is strangely restrained as a bigshot sugar daddy.
Rated 14 May 2017
72
45th
Nothing new here. It seems like a good story was all mixed up in a blender and then put back together in a hurry. It lacks emocional depth and a better developed script.
Rated 04 Sep 2016
55
41st
Like a late Bob Dylan album. Beautiful and pleasant but never as edgy as you hope.
Rated 27 Oct 2016
44
40th
Set design and costumes are top-notch (to say nothing of Storaro's sumptuous cinematography), but the writing leaves something to be desired. Eisenberg does an almost disconcertingly dead-on Allen impression (no doubt prompted by Allen himself), but no one else really stands out in this thinly-sketched and overly plotty bit of fluff, which is a shame when you've got a cast that includes Parker Posey, Paul Schneider (!), and Jeannie fucking Berlin. Fine as a nostalgia trip but nothing more.
Rated 13 Sep 2016
70
26th
I think Eisenberg may be the perfect new Allen stand-in. This movie, though not bad, needed more flare to stand out from the same movies that he keeps making.
Rated 27 Jan 2017
40
7th
Woody once again returns to the 1930's, but don't go expecting The Purple Rose of Cairo. Cafe Society is run of the mill Allen seemingly written and directed by an automaton; even his narration sounds tacked on and unenthused. It is so caught up trying to recapture the period, mostly in the form of pointless name dropping, that it forgets to tell a compelling story. Eisenberg is barely adequate as Woody's surrogate and the sub-plots are poorly developed. Allen needs to retire or take a break.
Rated 17 Oct 2016
65
33rd
Café Society is atmospheric, but feels neither querky, nor funny enough to make me engage with the characters. Sadly it just feels as void and sleek as most of Allen's new productions. The story just ambles along until at one point it ends at random. It's not a bad movie at all, but not outstanding either.
Rated 20 Jan 2020
68
45th
Cancel me I liked it!!!
Rated 30 Jun 2020
70
74th
I really like Carell, Stewart and Posey which likely leads to me rating this film higher than I would otherwise rate it (but what's a film if it's not defined by its actors?). I also have a soft spot for the (history of) golden age of Hollywood and so the idea of hanging around in cafes, night clubs etc. with film/high society does appeal to me. The storyline is entertaining enough with the visuals and music strongly evoking the era.
Rated 23 Oct 2016
75
42nd
Not terrible, but I can't stand Jesse Eisenberg, and it just didn't have the Woody Allen flair to it.
Rated 13 Oct 2016
35
2nd
I'm only rating this for the jewey dialogue and for Eisenberg's acting. The rest is super dull. I also loathe the insane "coloristics", and Stewart is soul-less and plain as usual. Someone here on criticker wrote: "However, there is something comforting in even Allen's worst films, like being visited by an old friend" - I could not have said it better.
Rated 29 Aug 2016
75
32nd
The movie works. It is well written, has good directing and even Eisenberg performance works as a generic Woody Allen on screen. The thing is that eventhough it really works, it doesn't shine. It is a good Woody Allen, but not the brightest one. But please: go see it anyway! Even a not-so-brilliant Woody Allen is still well above average.
Rated 01 Nov 2016
85
83rd
Woody lays down another classic. His last few outings always feels like you're being transported back into another era of filmmaking with the period setting to match. No one else is doing this, (sans the Coen Brothers' with 'Hail Caesar!', but the tone is all different) so why not enjoy a modern retelling from a devoted student? Woody's gruff voice narrates the characters introductions. Features a pretty clear swap out, for what would have been himself, with the younger and competent Eisenberg.
Rated 08 Dec 2016
65
31st
I don't mean this in a bad way, but I'm not entirely sure that Woody Allen is NOT still stuck in film school. I guess it's just his style. I found the overt narrator... distracting. I'm all for satire but I feel like this might be ten or twelve shades too hard on the nose, especially when it cuts back to New York. There is definitely good here but it feels so uneven. I don't know what else to say. It's a miss from me, although a strong, poignant and nuanced ending does bump the ranking up a bit.
Rated 04 Jan 2017
6
54th
Café Society isn't peak Allen, in the manner of such recent high points as Midnight in Paris (2011) and Blue Jasmine (2013), but the film -- which could be helpfully subtitled Manhattan v Hollywood -- feels lively, lived-in and fallibly human.
Rated 25 Sep 2016
60
32nd
Below average Woody Allen movie. Worst I've seen of him.
Rated 27 Dec 2016
64
11th
Eisenberg's Woody impersonation is straight up creepy, and Blake Lively's Diane Keaton is actually Really impressive but also equally unsettling. Why are they imitating them? That question is way over this film's head. WATCH IT BECAUSE: Woody courageously foregoes the usual female "star" for a black hole. To this end, Kristen Stewart, as a gaping maw sucking all traces of light and life from every frame she touches, seems to have freed an as yet unseen virtuosity from within herself
Rated 18 Aug 2016
73
31st
(...)Am Ende summiert Allen all die zerstörten Träume, die vergeblichen Hoffnungen und Wünsche. Er selbst spricht aus dem Off und zum ersten Mal hört er sich tatsächlich altersgemäss an. Wie ein 80jähriger Regisseur, der die Bilder kommentiert, die wir bereits zu Beginn sahen. Eine edle Gesellschaft, um einem blauen Pool versammelt. Dieses Mal aber wirkt es so wie das verlorene Paradies...
Rated 15 Oct 2016
60
49th
Storaro's bigger-than-life cinematography elevates what could be another Allen misfire. This feels like the light-hearted jew tale the director hadn't done for quite some time. More focused than Midnight in Paris and Moonlight, this one manages to tell an enduring love story through simple characters wandering unhappy in their jetset circles and a narrative that doesn't give in to abrupt changes. Family stuff is also aces. Not remarkable, but one of Allen's most solid late entries.
Rated 10 Sep 2016
40
23rd
The incessant backing music was distracting and unfortunately I just didn't find it remotely funny
Rated 24 Sep 2016
63
16th
This movie, with its awkward dialogue, it's dubious performances (looking at you, Stewart), and hollowed out themes just can't come together. It comes so close, but when Corey Stoll is the highlight of your movie, that leaves a lot to critique. I think I'm losing my patience with this Allen fellow, probably can't take more than 10-15 new movies from him before I give up on him.
Rated 19 Nov 2016
90
83rd
Charming and delightful bauble; possibly Allen's most flat-out enjoyable film of the 2000s to date. Perfect recreation of American cinema's perception of 30s life and society, enacted by a flawless cast -- Eisenberg makes a fine Allen surrogate, and Stewart a touching leading lady. Beautifully melancholic undertone is the perfect frosting - detours into mob violence and fractious family dynamics underscore the hard reality of WWII waiting in the wings for these essentially vapid people.
Rated 09 Oct 2016
12
9th
100% filler
Rated 07 Jun 2017
30
7th
Jesse Eisenberg pretends to be Woody Allen playing a character that's a stupid asshole who is in love with another stupid asshole. Everything else is over stylized rich people living in 1930s and jokes about Jewish people. It's a lot of things Woody has done before but this time it's in a Hollywood or night club setting.
Rated 05 Sep 2016
3
68th
Enjoyable romcom with cosy atmosphere.
Rated 22 Jan 2017
60
89th
Woody Allen's Café Society (2016), not a remake of the Fred MacMurray & Madeleine Carroll screwball comedy Cafe Society (1939), even if the story takes place in the same era with a lot of 30s Hollywood name dropping. Café Society (2016) is a stylish look at an age passed with focus on the ironies of love. Doesn't come full circle, or perhaps it does, but in true Jewish spirit of Allen's sense of humor, it's a good sad laugh.
Rated 12 Jul 2016
7
57th
Beneath its lighthearted portrayal of the high society nightclub life that defined the glitzy spirit of the era lies a bittersweet and wistful love story, one that triggered so many pent up memories and unvoiced thoughts, I actually had extreme difficulty getting through it. But Allen continues to crank out a film each year like a Mexican mother cranks out handmade corn tortillas for her ill-fed neighbours, so I can't complain too much.
Rated 01 Dec 2016
46
14th
Though Stewart is reliably good and the supporting cast is strong overall, the fantasy of Jesse Eisenberg whining his way through life as Stewart and Blake Lively fight and pine over him tips this comedy from satire to schmaltz.
Rated 08 Mar 2017
70
50th
Watching a Woody Allen film is like wearing an old comfortable jumper ... you are not going to look fantastic in it, but it's comfortable, reassuring and cosy. If you can go with this unlikely story (let's face it, it really is!) then I dont see how you can fail to be enchanted by Stewart, Eisenberg and the witty script, even if you feel you are really seeing Mr Allen on screen reprising his famous "moose sketch" ad infinitum. To me, with his prolific output, Allen is the very definition of 70%.
Rated 10 Sep 2016
50
35th
Jew,jew.jewjewjew.jew.jew.jew. jewish.
Rated 03 Oct 2018
67
34th
66.67.
Rated 20 Sep 2018
77
36th
???? ?????????? ? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ? ????? ????????? ????.???? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ? ????? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???.
Rated 09 Aug 2016
79
10th
On the one hand, this film is sumptuously shot and designed--from the costumes to the production design to the gorgeous photography and buttery lighting. It's cool to see Allen's vision of Old Hollywood. The narrative is the problem. The stakes are so low I found it impossible to care. The central couple (Eisenberg and Stewart) have no chemistry at all. The best moments come from the supporting cast. Not one of Allen's worst, but certainly not one of his best.
Rated 01 Jan 2017
50
29th
Beautifully lensed and designed and with some interesting side characters and performances, but Eisnberg's Bobby is a horrible lead character. He changes from a simpering boy to an overconfident jackass, but maintains the detached and overly-mannered acting and seems to care only about his first love while the world happens around him.
Rated 03 Aug 2016
85
84th
Seamlessly enjoyable, creatively shot, and Allen's writing suited the environment perfectly. As a huge fan of "Adventureland" I thought the chemistry between Eisenberg and Stewart corrected the hollow feeling of some of the other stuff Woody has been putting out in the 2010's. One of my favourites this year.
Rated 10 Sep 2016
70
57th
seyir keyfi yüksek, nostaljik bir hikaye. son yıllarda bir öyle bir böyle giderken ne zaman daha eski usül bir iş yapsa daha tatmin edici oluyor woody, belki kendisi daha fazla yansıyor o hikayelere. ama şimdi bu keyifli olduğuna göre dizisinden mi beklentiyi yüksek tutmamalıyız yoksa sıradaki filmden mi, o sıra bozulmuş mu oluyor şimdi?
Rated 11 Sep 2016
75
85th
Vibrant superlative images laid over an acting clinic peppered with Woody Allen jokes. I can scarcely understand how a movie fan wouldn't engage with this in some way. The images are so stunning that they drown out Woody Allen's voiceover, which will give the movie a rewatchable quality.
Rated 07 Feb 2017
4
74th
Time passes, the world turns, people grow into their shoes, and still the big questions never resolve in a satisfactory manner. "Dreams are dreams." And who better to capture the cozy aura of dreamland than Vittorio Storaro. It is among Allen's most gorgeous films. A sad and bittersweet romance, mild in comedy, with the two leads reprising their previously demonstrated chemistry.
Rated 02 Jan 2017
5
1st
W2E1P1S0V1M0A0R0.
Rated 18 Apr 2018
2
17th
This time Allen couldn't keep me at my seat - It was just plain dull... Eisenberg was ok but it seemed like Allen was trying to portray himself - weird. Liked the costumes and jazzy 30th feeling. *Okay
Rated 23 Nov 2020
30
6th
The only reason to watch this is for the costuming.
Rated 31 May 2018
68
31st
68.00
Rated 19 Jan 2019
61
55th
Pretty entertaining, but Eisenberg annoys the heck out of me. Also didn't like how it ended...
Rated 01 Aug 2019
90
71st
Blake Lively is gorgeus
Rated 15 Oct 2019
58
60th
This felt like an attempt to re-create the success of Midnight in Paris. It doesn't quite get there, but it was enjoyable enough.
Rated 14 Jan 2020
3
25th
A decent late period Allen, nothing more, nothing less.
Rated 06 Feb 2020
4
43rd
The bifurcated nature of the plot kind of makes it feel more like two incomplete movies rather than one complete one - made more unfocused still once you bring all the gangster stuff on top of the Hollywood stuff. The dialogue and characters are basically by the numbers Allen, which is to say still pretty good but all kind of been there done that. Watched it two hours ago and I’m not sure I could quote a single line. Eisenberg plays a pitch perfect “Woody Allen” though, that’s for sure.
Rated 15 May 2020
74
49th
Funny, not boring.
Rated 24 Jun 2020
82
42nd
I liked how love is portrayed in this film, but otherwise forgot it almost immediately.
Rated 06 Aug 2021
65
32nd
2016.10.5/????????????????????????????
Rated 24 Nov 2021
60
58th
eng; [Cafe Society]; ein junger mann möchte in hollywood arbeiten und findet sich in den armen einer schauspielerin wieder, welche einen anderen liebt - doch dann eröffnet er ein besonderes cafe.; (smooth old style movie; sadly Eisenberg does not match the role at all);
Rated 22 Jan 2023
50
27th
it's meh all around. allen relies heavily on the charm of the era and what it represents. carell feels out of time. eisenberg and stewart's chemistry is somewhat lacking. the real issue is the absence of an actual ending, everything sort of fizzle out. on a positive note, stunning "normal rockwell" photography and no-fuss editing make the film highly watchable.
Rated 19 Aug 2023
55
15th
Lolshesdatinghisuncleorbro?lol+blakelooksgreat+stilldreamofyou-kiss
Rated 06 Nov 2023
68
62nd
La lumière qui vacille est magnifique, et colle parfaitement aux thématiques du film. Woody Allen s’améliore, et améliore ses films avec le temps, surtout visuellement. Jesse Eisenberg est un acteur adorable et magnifique, qui se fond dans le décor. Kristen Stewart avait l'air de s'ennuyer parfois. L'histoire d'amour tourne rapidement en rond, c'est dommage.

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