«A rainy day in New York», a pleasant little summer drizzle

Les mercredis du cinéma - Kelly Lambiel

Initially scheduled for release in 2018, the film was thought to have been shelved in the wake of sexual assault allegations against director Woody Allen, A rainy day in New York arrives in cinemas. And, even if the affair revived by the #MeToo movement dates back to 2013, for the viewer, the situation is delicate. Should we boycott the filmmaker and his work, following the example of certain protagonists who, according to rumor, donated their entire salary to an association that helps victims of sexual harassment? Or, on the contrary, rely on the presumption of innocence still enjoyed by the accused, since no real charges have yet been laid?

The whole of Hollywood seems to be divided, just as I am myself. As a as a woman and a citizen, I'm inevitably sensitive to the issue of harassment. harassment and, at the same time, as a cinephile, I make no secret of it, I greatly appreciate the artist's work. When the lights go out and the white letters on a black background of the opening credits, to the to the sound of a jazzy tune, the words «written and directed by Woody Allen», I wonder: is it still possible for me to watch his films, enjoy them and talk about them?

In the misty sky clearings

Without much suspense, let me announce from the outset that despite the difficult context in which it was produced and distributed, A rainy day in New York is a rather pleasant film. If you appreciate the style of the latest Woody Allen, you'll find here the freshness of titles like Midnight in Paris or Café Society.

From the first, it retains the many literary and artistic references, and that slightly nerdy but not too nerdy side we've come to appreciate so much. Thanks to the character of Gatsby (Timothée Chalamet), a genuine dandy romanticism trapped in the body of a young 21st-century student^th From the first, we subtly step back into the New York of Hollywood's Golden Age love films. Of the latter, it retains the mise en abîme aspect, presenting the fascinating world of cinema in a somewhat offbeat version. And, as with every production, it's all supported by a casting high-flying. In short, the hands turn and you don't notice.

A sun hidden by a few clouds

Although the adjectives «sympathetic» and «light» can be applied to this film, it has to be said that they also suit it in their negative connotations. While the director has accustomed us to tasty comedies of manners featuring unrequited love and improbable, comical situations experienced by often original characters, this time he struggles to renew himself. His recipe has proved its worth time and time again, but in the long run we end up with the feeling that we're being served a reheated dish. In the whirlwind of otherwise entertaining misadventures that sweep Gatsby and the cartoonish Ashleigh off to New York for the weekend, there's little substance.

Perhaps you'll tell me that my critical mind and aesthetic judgment have been somewhat clouded by certain parameters that clash with my values, that I'm not objective. But is any criticism objective? And can we dissociate the work from the artist? Must we? I wonder how many artists of dubious personality and behavior we now admire and honor in our museums, libraries and theaters? Does that make us hypocrites? Or just cowards?

Write to the author: kelly.lambiel@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Frenetic