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| The retro-cool poster for Woody Allen's The Curse of the Jade Scorpion |
QUICK REVIEW:
Insurance detective C. W. Briggs feels terrorized by his office's efficiency expert, who also happens to be the director's mistress. Their hate-love-relationship develops, when a hypnotist uses them both to conduct his crimes.
Scorpion has attractive photography by Chinese cinematographer Fei Zhao (Sweet and Lowdown (1999)) and lots of witty dialog from master writer-director Woody Allen (Broadway Danny Rose (1984)), although they aren't from his top shelf; yet they still thoroughly amuse.
They figure in a seductive, original crime plot, which recalls noir classics such as Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep (1946). - In particular Charlize Theron's (In the Valley of Elah (2007)) femme fatale character is reminiscent of Lauren Bacall in that masterful film.
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion was not a happy movie to make, because the period sets were so expensive that there was hardly any time for re-shooting, and because Allen found that he shouldn't have taken the lead part himself. Perhaps the resulting stress is why he doesn't even seem to have changed into period glasses for the film. He has self-consciously remarked that it is perhaps his worst film, (which it isn't by a long-shot. In my opinion that would be To Rome With Love (2012)).
Related reviews:
The Big Sleep (1946) - The sexiest noir carousel you will ever ride
Woody Allen: 2014 in films - according to Film Excess
Magic in the Moonlight (2014) - Allen's irresistible French Riviera romance
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Fading Gigolo (2013) - Turturro's pleasant turn as a high-end NY prostitute (as actor)
Blue Jasmine (2013) - Allen presenets Blanchett, a woman under the influence
To Rome with Love (2012) - Woody Allen's slightest film to date
Cassandra's Dream (2007) - Allen's well-laid but inconsequentiel English cul-de-sac
Anything Else (2003) - Perfect contemporary relationship comedy
Celebrity (1998) or, Beautiful Celebrities Talk About Sex (guest review)
Broadyway Danny Rose (1984) or, Keep Your Heart
Annie Hall (1977) or, My Relationship with Alvie Singer
Bananas (1971) - Woody Allen's South American misadventure is still a barrel of laughs
Casino Royale (1967) - The packed spy spoof frontrunner, a film very much of its time (as actor)
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| Woody Allen, David Ogden Stiers and Helen Hunt in Allen's The Curse of the Jade Scorpion |
Watch the trailer for the movie here
Cost: 33 mil. $
Box office: 18.9 mil. $
= Big flop
[The film disappointed in the US with a scant 7.4 mil. $ gross. Though Rotten Tomatoes measures a measly 5.2 critical average for the film, general audiences (and Film Excess) are more enthusiastic; it has 6.8 at IMDb. Roger Ebert reevaluated the film and said, "No noir films were shot in color in the 1940s, but if one had been, it would have looked like this."]
What do you think of The Curse of the Jade Scorpion?
