I saw this when it was first released in the theaters At the time I thought it was some kind of masterpiece. Now I'm not so sure. Obviously Fellini's 8 1/2 is the inspiration for this film. It's photographed in black and white by Gordon Willis who was a master cinematographer. It borrows the opening of Fellini's picture and the film in general is about a famous comedic film director who doesn't what to make funny films anymore much like the character in Sullivan's Travels.
The character of Sandy Bates the film director is clearly modeled after Woody Allen. This isn't the nebbish character he played in his films but a guy who knows his way around a film production and how to deal with studio executives. In addition, Sandy Bates is something of a lady's man who doesn't seem to have any problems getting together with beautiful women, probably a character closer to the real Woody Allen.
Stardust Memories also had the reputation as the film where Woody Allen announced to the world that he hated his fans, something he has denied. However watching the film with it's grotesque Fellini like gargoyle faces it's hard to argue that he certainly doesn't seem to like them very much.
For a meticulous filmmaker like Woody Allen who spends most of the film setting up his character's extensional and emotional angst he gets to the end of the film and clearly doesn't know how to resolve it.
Woody Allen is a talented guy but I'm not sure copying other filmmakers is the best way to make films even if it's a "loving homage."
The running time, 85 minutes.
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