Episodic, uneven but good-humored Allen film with intense Sean Penn...

Rating: 6/10 (16 September 2006)

Not a typical Woody Allen film, as you can see from a cast headed by SEAN PENN, SAMANTHA MORTON and UMA THURMAN.
Penn is a little known jazz musician from the '30s era so there's a lot of jazz guitar music on the soundtrack. Obviously it's a story close to Woody's heart. Penn plays the most down on his luck musician since Kirk Douglas in YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN.
One of the film's best lines: "A pimp doesn't need business cards." Yes, Penn's associations are on the tawdry side but he looks to be getting full enjoyment out of his colorful role. He plays a real loser whose dreams always blow up in smoke. It's a juicy role for Penn since most of the dialog belongs to his character--when girlfriend SAMANTHA MORTON turns out to be a mute. She spends most of the time munching on food while she watches him with a baleful eye. But the tender scenes between Penn and Morton make the whole story worthwhile.
During one of his kleptomaniac moments he meets UMA THURMAN whom he subsequently marries. Uma is her usual seductive self. But I'm giving away too much plot. Suffice it to say, it's an enjoyable Allen film and much of the charm comes from the authentic look to the '30s era and the jazz background.
Summing up: Endearingly funny, except for a downbeat, bittersweet ending.
Try it, you'll like it.