Wonder Wheel (2017)

Woody Allen's recent films haven't held much for me. That coupled with a greater understanding of Allen's ugly personal failings make me less and less interested in him as an artist. Not since Midnight in Paris have I enjoyed one of his films. I keep coming back to them in the hopes that he might turn out another Husbands and Wives, Hannah and Her Sisters, or other of his greater films. Wonder Wheel isn't bad, especially when compared to other recent Allen films, like Cafe Society, Irrational Man, or Magic in the Moonlight, but I'm not sure it indicates a return to greatness for this questionable artist. What is clearly the bright spot of this film and redeems it at all, is its lead, Kate Winslet.

Wonder Wheel plays more like a stage play than a film. It feels like it is aping Neil Simon or Tennessee Williams. Winslet's Ginny is a great character, like Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, complicated, deeply flawed, and irresistible. The whole film is an opportunity for a great turn by a wonderful actor and Winslet pulls it off wonderfully. Allen has a history of writing great women characters (Diane Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway, Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite, Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine, Annie Hall herself), and Ginny is right up there. But, as with most of Allen's great female characters, she is brought to life by an incredible actor like Winslet who make the character be alive. Winslet, who has rather clumsily struggled with justifying working with someone like Allen for the benefit of taking what is obviously an amazing part, wins me over despite my distaste for the film maker.

Part of the problem with the film is that the rest of the characters just don't hold up. It's like all the energy when into creating this one character so none of the rest are fleshed out in a real way. And therefore when Winslet begins to loose it, especially tied to her affection for Timberlake's character, it feels misplaced. I still found her descent fascinating but the story doesn't necessarily support her arc as well as it needed to.

Then again women being let down by the disappointing men around them has a fairly realistic feel to it.

Softly shot and rich with colour, Wonder Wheel is rather a pleasant watch, even beyond Winslet's performance. I completely respect those who can't separate the artist from his work and therefore choose not to see his films. I struggle with that myself, not sure how comfortable I am with seeing his work any longer. For those who are open to seeing, Wonder Wheel isn't a complete disappointment and provides the opportunity to see a great actor do great work.

Wonder Wheel
Starring: Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Jim Belushi
Writer/Director: Woody Allen