SummaryWonder Wheel tells the story of four characters whose lives intertwine amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s: Ginny (Kate Winslet), an emotionally volatile former actress now working as a waitress in a clam house; Humpty (Jim Belushi), Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey (Justin Timbe...
SummaryWonder Wheel tells the story of four characters whose lives intertwine amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s: Ginny (Kate Winslet), an emotionally volatile former actress now working as a waitress in a clam house; Humpty (Jim Belushi), Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey (Justin Timbe...
There are valid criticisms of Wonder Wheel as a film that feels more like a stage play – its claustrophobic atmosphere can be stifling. But even covering familiar ground, Allen finds the blunt truth at its core. As Ginny is stripped of her fantasies and exposed to the harsh glare of reality, Winslet stands her ground, as if to say attention must be paid. It should be. Her performance is absolutely astounding.
I really don't get the bad reviews this movie has gotten, I reckon Wonder Wheel is a shockingly underestimated gem, and usually I'm not a huge fan of Allen. But in this movie everything seems perfect to me,starting from the saturated palette created by Vittorio Storaro, which evokes a sense of celebrating nostalgia for the amazing '50s and stresses the dreaming nature of the protagonist (a Kate Winslet in state of grace), a palette that describes the protagonist's feelings, showed through a blue or a golden shade on her persona, Picasso's style. I loved the metatheatrical bits, the numerous references to the Greek tragedy (the movie itself feels like it's a stage play). And this is the best I can do with my second language.
Allen has hits and misses. Match Point was a hit, and with his other films, there are obvious misses. Wonder Wheel is a hit. It has a great measured pace and lyrical dialogue. Winslet embraces her role fully and it's hard to believe she wasn't nominated for best actor. Aesthetically cohesive it charmingly represents the 1950s. It comes across as a stage play made into a movie as the long monologues of the characters are engaging and revealing of their inner, human flaws. The storyline has a similar theme of his other works but the acting here becomes paramount - especially Winslet - and leaves the viewer less inclined to fault him for this. The Timberlake character does come across as too modern and slightly anachronistic but otherwise, this movie is greatly under-rated. Can't understand how it has received such poor ratings.
It’s undercooked even by the filmmaker’s own late-career standards. Yes, Coney Island has never looked more gorgeously golden-hued (thanks to cinematographer Vittorio Storaro), but Allen has seldom been less sharp.
"Wonder Wheel" is Woody Allen's 48th film, a love triangle set in 1950's Coney Island. The story centers on Ginny (Kate Winslet), a depressed clam bar waitress trapped in a loveless marriage, who begins a secret romance with a lifeguard (Justin Timberlake) while her husband's estranged daughter (Juno Temple) comes to stay with them. The film explores themes of past mistakes and damaged dreams, with a darker tone than Allen's previous works. Kate Winslet gives a standout performance, while the cinematography by Vittorio Storaro captures the vibrant colors of Coney Island. The film's stage-like feel and at times wordy dialogue detracts from the overall experience, but "Wonder Wheel" is still a good, toned-down offering from the prolific director.
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"Wonder Wheel" es la película número 48 de Woody Allen, un triángulo amoroso ambientado en Coney Island en la década de 1950. La historia se centra en Ginny (Kate Winslet), una camarera deprimida atrapada en un matrimonio sin amor, que comienza un romance secreto con un salvavidas (Justin Timberlake) mientras la hija separada de su esposo (Juno Temple) viene a quedarse con ellos. La película explora temas de errores del pasado y sueños dañados, con un tono más oscuro que los trabajos anteriores de Allen. Kate Winslet ofrece una actuación destacada, mientras que la cinematografía de Vittorio Storaro captura los colores vibrantes de Coney Island. La sensación de escenario de la película y, a veces, los diálogos prolijos restan valor a la experiencia general, pero "Wonder Wheel" sigue siendo una buena oferta atenuada del prolífico director.
With this film I have confirmed what I had already thought of Woody Allen's filmography, because since Vicky Cristina Barcelona to the date, the man has fallen into another creative blunder and in nine years he has only delivered two solid films and this is not one of them. And I'm quite disappointed because this one looked promising.
While stunning visually, this latest offering from Woody Allen has to rank among the worst of his films. With leads that are horribly miscast (especially Kate Winslet in a bombastic exercise of overacting), writing that's seriously bloated and in need of retooling, and characters who are neither likable nor believable, the film tells a tale that in many ways feels like a working class 1950s retread of "Blue Jasmine" with elements of "Cafe Society" thrown in. As much of a fan as I am of the director's work, I whole-heartedly recommend skipping this one -- and hope that he gets back on track with his next project.
If you make the mistake of viewing this film, pay special attention to Justin Timberlake. It's as if he's been possessed by Woody Allen. Even Timberlake's diction is similar to Allen's. Timberlake is Woody Allen by proxy. All in all, a pretty boring flick.