Celebrity (1998)

Celebrity is Woody Allen at his most sharply observed, using Sven Nykvist’s luxurious black-and-white photography to make Manhattan’s glitter look both seductive and a little ghostly, like a dream you wake up questioning. Kenneth Branagh barrels through the film with nervy, hilarious desperation, while Judy Davis gives the story its bruised, human center, and the dialogue snaps with the kind of wit that makes even uncomfortable truths sound dangerously charming. The vibe is brisk, satirical, and slightly melancholy—an insider’s tour of parties, power, and performative romance that keeps asking what any of it is worth when the lights go out. It’s not for viewers who want a cuddly comedy or a tidy moral, but if you like smart, adult filmmaking that laughs while it winces, this one is an irresistibly stylish ride.

Celebrity is clearly trying to skewer New York’s fame machine and midlife desperation, using a string of showbiz encounters to show how empty the chase can feel. The problem is it often plays like a grab bag of Woody Allen greatest-hits themes without the sharp focus, so the story can feel scattered and a bit shallow rather than steadily building to something satisfying. Kenneth Branagh commits hard to the neurotic lead, but the performance can come off as grating enough that you may spend the film wanting to escape him instead of understanding him. If you enjoy satirical snapshots, glossy Manhattan settings, and a parade of celebrity caricatures it’s intermittently amusing, but if you’re looking for a cohesive character arc or fresh insight, this one may test your patience.