Café Society

Name: Café Society
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: July 15, 2016
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Steve Carell

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 133 Ratings

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Cafe Society

Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: July 15, 2016

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Steve Carell

Summary: A young man (Jesse Eisenberg) 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.

Director: Woody Allen

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 96 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Observer - Rex Reed

Jul 13, 2016

Romantic, bittersweet and funny as hell, Café Society turns Hollywood inside out, rooting through the superficial tinsel to find the real tinsel. You go away gobsmacked, beaming and happy to be both. Read full review

The Telegraph - Robbie Collin

May 11, 2016

Café Society isn’t Vonnie’s story, but it’s Stewart’s film. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Carson Lund

Jul 11, 2016

As clarified potently by the film, most of life is spent distracting oneself from matters of the closest personal significance. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Todd McCarthy

May 11, 2016

Wispy and familiar in its themes and humorous strokes, Café Society benefits from an exceptionally adept cast led by Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Steve Carell, as well as from a luminous glow that emphasizes both the old Hollywood nostalgia and the story’s basis in dreams and artifice. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - David Edelstein

Jul 14, 2016

It’s an unusually warm world, full of helpful wealthy people and friendly faces. That’s the conundrum. It’s too shallow to nourish the spirit of a man like Bobby. But it’s too rich to leave. Read full review

The Guardian - Peter Bradshaw

May 11, 2016

Woody Allen’s Café Society is a sweet, sad, insubstantial jeu d’ésprit, watchable, charming and beautifully shot by Vittorio Storaro – yet always freighted by a pedantic nostalgia for the 1930s golden age in both Hollywood and New York, nostalgia which the title itself rather coercively announces. Read full review

Movie Nation - Roger Moore

Aug 2, 2016

This is as decrepit and tone-deaf as any movie he’s ever made, a corpse of a period piece, production-designed to the hilt, distractedly directed, a failure that hints at The End of Woody. Read full review

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User Reviews

NightReviews

Aug 23, 2016

At eighty years young, Woody Allen delivers his forty-sixth (yup, you read that right) feature film with Café Society; a bourbon basked narrative feature showcasing the wonderfully vibrant jazz era of the 1930’s, where the magic of the movies is very much alive; nightclubs are bustling withAt eighty years young, Woody Allen delivers his forty-sixth (yup, you read that right) feature film with Café Society; a bourbon basked narrative feature showcasing the wonderfully vibrant jazz era of the 1930’s, where the magic of the movies is very much alive; nightclubs are bustling with life, traces of the gangster underworld are closer than ever and love is a feeling as whimsical as ever in a parallel tale spanning from Hollywood to New York City.

After forty-six films, you would think, with a director and writer as aged as most of our grandparents, the dialogue and writer of such an iconic filmmaker would lose his touch, but Allen proves his newest feature is as fresh, fun and fantastic as could be. Self-aware and self-absorbed as ever, the auteur extraordinaire showcases some of his most subtle and subdued screenplay to date, focusing mostly on performance from his very young cast and indulging in the beauty of a lively era within the very social elite of Hollywood and New York City.

Like any good Allen film, the story follows a very unsure and adventurous young man by the name of Bobby Dorfman, played perfectly by the nerdy and always loveable Jesse Eisenberg. Bobby, who has chosen for a change of scenery from his native New York City life, decides to chance life on a whim, and join his highly successful and famed uncle Phil Stern (Steve Carell), a Hollywood agent and grande opportunist for a lavish life in Hollywood. Reluctant to really give his nephew a chance, Uncle Phil caves and leaves Bobby in the hands of his angelic and innocently beautiful secretary and assistant Vonnie, played elegantly by Kristen Stewart. Taken by her beauty at first site, Bobby and Vonnie begin experiencing the city of angels through the eyes of glamour and glitz, essentially discrediting the city and its inhabitants as a whole, and wishing for a life that is half Hollywood, and half urban paradise.

As the relationship between Vonnie and Bobby intensifies, despite Vonnie having a secretive relationship with another married man, the two share some of the most memorable meet-cute dates seen this year on screen.

The heart of Café Society relies heavily on the relationship and chemistry between Eisenberg and Stewart, who, luckily for audiences, have played love interests twice before in Adventureland and American Ultra. By now, while watching Café Society, one of the most frustrating elements of the film is why the two stars haven’t began dating outside of the narrative of the films they star in. Eisenberg’s quirk matched with the mysteriousness and nonchalant attitude of Stewart, make the two and quintessential non-Hollywood/Hollywood couple.

As life complicates itself, as all matters of the heart do, Bobby soon finds himself back in the big Apple, eventually succumbing to his big brother Ben (Corey Stoll) and managing a somewhat legitimate business in Le Tropical, a nightclub owned by Ben, among other very illegal and gangster business endeavours. Stoll, who dons a full head of hair as the fiery and ruthless gangster brother to Bobby, brings forth the charm and wit he did as Ernest Hemingway in Allen Midnight In Paris. An Allen alum, Stoll provides the film with some of its most expected comedy, yet is pitch-perfect as the tough guy older brother who knows no life other than the life of the streets.

Allen, who uses many of the same actors over in his films, Stoll twice, Eisenberg twice, Posey, Sirico and company, relies on his actors to deliver some of his most entertaining, fun and light-hearted material to date. Café Society is a fun, summerlicious filled romantic comedy with perfect instances of light-hearted dialogue and narrative that uses the beautiful jazz music as a mosaic of forbidden love and second chances.

While Café Society may not be the huge commercial success of other summer blockbuster films, the film is easily one of my favourite films of the year, delivering a true cinematically entrancing experience, much like Allen’s Midnight In Paris.

If there is one thing I would recommend this summer season, its to make sure to watch this film by any means necessary. Café Society proves again that, like many good comedies, most are written by sadistic comedy writers, and while Allen’s newest is far from sadistic, the film is an examined portrayal of an era of the golden days of cinema that brings back the golden, and leaves the rust behind. Sure, Allen can be completely self-absorbed with his films, making sure his unique cinematic voice is heard and quirkiness felt wholeheartedly, but, regardless of all that, I absolutely fell in love with this film. And while love is not rational, you fall, and lose control, which is the exact same feeling I had when leaving the cinema for this film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

preciouskiki

Aug 2, 2016

Enjoyed every minute of it. What a great cast! Jesse Eisenberg, Kirsten Stewart, Steve Carell, and Blake Lively are all just terrific in this delightful 1930s period piece. I thought Corey Stoll was particularly good as the gangster brother. And it was especially good to see Jeannie BerlinEnjoyed every minute of it. What a great cast! Jesse Eisenberg, Kirsten Stewart, Steve Carell, and Blake Lively are all just terrific in this delightful 1930s period piece. I thought Corey Stoll was particularly good as the gangster brother. And it was especially good to see Jeannie Berlin again as Rose Dorfman, the mother of Jesse Eisenberg's character. You may remember her as the spurned wife in the original 1972 "Heartbreak Kid" opposite the inimitable Charles Grodin. (I'm glad to say that gem of a movie has turned up on TV again recently after a long absence.) Sari Lennick does a great job as the sister Evelyn. Stunning costumes, gorgeous scenery, wonderful music, and a fun story: what more could you want? Woody Allen narrates.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Sep 21, 2016

Woody Allen’s films are often either a hit or miss affair. Thankfully, Café Society can be considered a minor hit. In fact it is Allen’s best film since the excellent ‘Blue Jasmine’ three years ago. It can also be considered something of a surprise in many ways. Jesse Eisenberg is reallyWoody Allen’s films are often either a hit or miss affair. Thankfully, Café Society can be considered a minor hit. In fact it is Allen’s best film since the excellent ‘Blue Jasmine’ three years ago. It can also be considered something of a surprise in many ways. Jesse Eisenberg is really rather good playing a role that Allen would have allocated to himself a couple of decades ago, and a blossoming Kristen Stewart does herself no harm at all in adding this confident performance to her cv. The screenplay is also relatively funny. It may not be an all-out laugh fest, but it certainly encourages one to wear a smile throughout the running time. Visually the film is one of Allen’s most accomplished belying what is probably a fairly modest budget. Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography must be amongst the best of the year in its field. Ditto the gorgeous production design and dazzling costumes. All in all it is definitely a more enjoyable film to watch than you would expect based on the quality of Allen’s recent output.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

televin

Jul 24, 2016

I thought Steve Carell was terribly miscast . He seemed to be playing his Michael Scott character (The Office) as Phil Stern.....Was a typical Allen movie in many ways , meandering thruout. Eisenberg and Lively did quite well , Stewart's 15 minutes will come to a close soon. The "loveI thought Steve Carell was terribly miscast . He seemed to be playing his Michael Scott character (The Office) as Phil Stern.....Was a typical Allen movie in many ways , meandering thruout. Eisenberg and Lively did quite well , Stewart's 15 minutes will come to a close soon. The "love stories" in the flick were interesting but much of the film just seemed like a lot of fluff......If you like Allen you will probably like the film… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

lancekoz

Oct 28, 2016

I liked this as a fan of the style and music, but the uneven script had the lead playing an unwarranted range that Eisenberg just could not handle, and there was a distinct lack of chemistry between him and Stewart. All the other actors seemed more interesting! Carrel had some gravitas, theI liked this as a fan of the style and music, but the uneven script had the lead playing an unwarranted range that Eisenberg just could not handle, and there was a distinct lack of chemistry between him and Stewart. All the other actors seemed more interesting! Carrel had some gravitas, the sister and husband and parents looked and acted much more the part of thirties' characters. Story gets a bit funnier and more dramatic in the last half, but still, oddly unsatisfying. In Woody's current movies, there is a point where the husbands are mercilessly lying to their wives as they embrace... a creepy commentary on the the value of matrimony that he keeps repeating. At first I got a sense maybe he's trying to play it for laughs but it happens so often, I distinctly feel like it has a confessional role in Woody's life. Kind of tiring.
GORGEOUS to look at tho.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Aug 1, 2016

Jesse Eisenberg is the latest delightful incarnation of writer/director Woody Allen's classic neurotic character. He plays a young man who moves to '30s Hollywood for a job in the film industry. Although show biz names are frequently dropped, this isn't a behind-the=camera story. It centersJesse Eisenberg is the latest delightful incarnation of writer/director Woody Allen's classic neurotic character. He plays a young man who moves to '30s Hollywood for a job in the film industry. Although show biz names are frequently dropped, this isn't a behind-the=camera story. It centers around his frustrated love affair with a young secretary (Kristen Stewart, who shows no special allure in the role). Even with Allen's energetic style, the dialogue is usually flat and most scenes go on too long. What the film has going for it is the art direction: beautiful sets/locations, lovely costumes and Vittorio Storaro's rich, gorgeous classic cinematography.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

SSH83

Oct 22, 2016

Jesse Eisenberg was a horrible casting choice. He turned all the charming bits into freakish and sexual-harassment. There is no sympathy for the Bobby character at the end because of this. Just a pathetic weirdo/loser and you wonder why do women even love him so. If the lead role wasJesse Eisenberg was a horrible casting choice. He turned all the charming bits into freakish and sexual-harassment. There is no sympathy for the Bobby character at the end because of this. Just a pathetic weirdo/loser and you wonder why do women even love him so. If the lead role was given to an actually charming actor, the movie would've worked much better.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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