Cassandra's Dream

As a reviewer it’s important to always maintain a sense of proportion when considering the work of someone you once admired but now are bored by.

Still, it’s difficult to escape the fact that this is a Woody Allen film, and impossible – at least in my case – not to feel depressed that it’s come to this.

The director’s 38th film in a 42-year career, Cassandra’s Dream is about as interesting as an omnibus edition of EastEnders, which is, unexpectedly, what it most resembles. But then Allen hasn’t made a really good movie since Sweet And Lowdown, in 1999, and the last great one was ten years before that, with Crimes And Misdemeanours. The move to London, which has produced three films – Match Point (2005), Scoop (2006), and this one – has to be judged a failure.

Cassandra’s Dream has two cor-blimey brothers – dreamy ladies man Ian and fragile mechanic Terry – embroiled in an unlikely contract killing. Allen, in his wisdom, has cast a Scot (Ewan McGregor) and an Irishman (Colin Farrell). Both are fine actors but neither can quite manage the working-class London accent. At times, Farrell sounds Cornish. This did not add to my enjoyment of the film.

Would I have liked it more if I hadn’t known Allen had directed it? No, I don’t think so. Would I have guessed that Allen was the director? Notwithstanding the schematic plot and the insensitivity to contemporary British culture, I can’t see how I would: it has none of the wit, the energy or the confidence of Allen at his best.

Allen\'s next one’s in Barcelona, with Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, so at least there’ll be stuff to look at. After that, he\'s back in New York for the first time in five years – and with Larry David no less. Things are looking up!