In Woody Allen’s ode to the vibrant subculture that defined the spirit of 1930s Manhattan and Hollywood, a perfectly cast Jesse Eisenberg arrives in Hollywood from New York hoping his wheeler-dealer uncle (Steve Carell) can get him a job. He immediately falls in love with uncle’s secretary (a slightly out-of- place Kristin Stewart) and finds himself in the middle of an amusing, slightly melancholy romantic triangle. This charmingly (and intentionally) unsubstantial, lived-in comedy of manners is a pretty decent second-tier Allen effort, but Woody’s seconds are usually better than what else is out there. And the breathtakingly luminous cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now, Last Tango in Paris) alone is worth the ticket price. A plus: Woody narrates. (96 min)
Don Morton
Don Morton has viewed some 6,000 movies, frequently awake. A bachelor and avid cyclist, he currently divides his time between Tokyo and a high-tech 4WD super-camper somewhere in North America.You may also like

Book Launch: Thomas Lockley’s Gentleman from Japan
Thomas Lockley follows the life of a slave-turned-elite in his latest book
Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo’s New Tailored Dining Experience
Invite your friends, dates and pets for an extravagant summer night
The Best Japanese Citrus Fruits: Flavor, Uses & Seasonal Picks
You Know Yuzu—But What About Jabara, Kabosu, or Hassaku?
Live Your Pokémon Dreams at Grand Hyatt Tokyo
Have a relaxing stay inspired by your favorite video game
Ikebana as a Branch for Connection
Suisho Higuchi reflects on ikebana in the modern world
Komakata Dozeu
Pond loaches and a taste of Edo history
Book Review: The Summer House by Masashi Matsuie
A quietly compelling meditation on architecture and desire