Hollywood Ending (2002)

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Enjoyable if lightweight Woody Allen comedy about a pretentious film director, Allen, who's offered a chance to direct a major film while his career is on the skids by his producer/ex-wife, the excellent Téa Leoni. Things get complicated when Allen's new bimbo girlfriend, a very funny Debra Messing, wants a part in the film, and also by Allen's being jealous of Leoni's new boyfriend, studio boss Treat Williams. And top that off by Allen getting a case of hysterical blindness a the start of filming which he needs to hide from everyone in order to keep his job. The plot isn't exactly comic gold, but the witty banter between character is classic Woody Allen and more than enough to make this film well worth watching for fans of Allen's nervous little fellow character. And watch for George Hamilton, Mark Rydell, Tiffani Thiessen, and former AMC host Bob Dorian if funny supporting roles.

I'm ready to admit a struggle in Woody Allen's filmography. I don't know if it was DreamWorks Studios attempt to curtail Woody Allen to more family-friendly fare, or if Allen actually did experience a rough patch in creativity, but the early 2000's so far have been underwhelming. Watching The Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Hollywood Ending back to back, I was most stricken by the seeming lack of direction the two films shared in common. Both films had a plot that just seemed to ebb and flows throughout the film rather than being catapulted through by a witty and strong script as I've grown accustomed to from a Woody Allen film. Hollywood Ending was Woody's 2002 film starring Woody Allen and Téa Leoni as a divorced pair working in the entertainment industry who work together once more for perhaps old times sake or retribution. Val Waxman (Woody Allen) is an Oscar-winning director whose reputation for being difficult having preceded him resulting in his lull in offers for work. Ellie (Téa Leoni) divorced Val 10-years prior after leaving him for a studio head whom she currently works with. Despite their past, Ellie believes that Val is the perfect director for a $60 million project "The City that Never Sleeps". Val has "the city of New York in his D.N.A. and goes to bat for him being considered as the director for the project. Against all odds, Val gets the job despite his dismay that his ex-wife is the one that was pushing for him so intently. The stress of a big film project, working with his ex-wife, and the troubled relationship with his son has resulted in a psycho-sematic case of blindness. Unable to see, Val and those closest to him create an elaborate ruse to hide that fact from the studio heads long enough for him to finish the film. Once Ellie finds out, Val expects her to out him to her studio executive boyfriend immediately, instead, she helps him hide his temporary blindness and the two rekindle their relationship.It's hard to believe one of the greatest American screenwriters is responsible for such a trope as Hollywood Ending. The script was clever in parts but overall suffered from poor pacing and a storyline which left little to engage with. The scene in which Woody was giving his side of an argument with Ellie to be interrupted by the man at the next table was reminiscent of Annie Hall in a beautiful way. Hollywood Ending was tough to get through and may have suffered a bit from being part of my Woody Allen retrospective project. The film probably isn't as bad on its own but watching it against several other Woody Allen films where it seemed like the director never missed left me thoroughly underwhelmed by it.

A woefully under-rated Woody Allen comedy. Allen is a high minded film director who refuses to compromise despite having no commercial appeal to anyone. He's so difficult he's only able to get jobs directing COMMERICIALS! He's given the chance to direct a feature from ex-wife Téa Leoni and becomes so overwrought, he goes blind (unbeknownst to the studio or much of the crew). This is one of Allen's flat out funniest films with a great cast, a ridiculous plot and a classic Allen performance. Leoni is hilarious as well. Both are out-shone by Debra Messing as Allen's ditsy girlfriend and would-be actress. The supporting cast is a typical Allen free-for-all & includes Treat Williams, George Hamilton, and Tiffani Thiessen as a very aggressive ingénue.

Woody Allen is a comic genius who plays himself in this film as Val Waxman. I don't believe his on screen relationship with Debra Messing or with Tea Leoni but that's Woody Allen for you. This film has him playing a down and out New York City film director who gets to make a film in the city with a Chinese cinematographer who can't speak English. Just days before filming commences, his character comes down with blindness. He can't let the cast, crew, and backers know he's really blind. But still, I do enjoy a good Woody Allen comedy. It's light-hearted at times in this film. If you don't get Woody Allen, I'm sorry that you probably wouldn't like the film. Anyway, I think it's time he got his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television; the Cecil B. DeMille Award; the National Medal of the Arts; and the Kennedy Center Honors. It's just time for him to get his rewards.