nice effort from Woody

Rating: 7/10 (23 March 2001)

[possible spoiler] Woody's movies have certainly been uneven of late but I would rate this as one of his better recent efforts. His love of the jazz of the 20's and 30's is clearly evident in this film; it is as much at the center of "Sweet and Lowdown" as Manhattan was in "Manhattan". The fictional Emmett Ray is one of those frustrating characters you want to like but whose egregious behavior keeps you at arm's distance. Like so many great creative personalities (Allen himself, e.g.) his great artistic gifts seem counterbalanced by character flaws that destroy his relationships with people. In the end we - I, at least - cannot help sympathizing with the driven Ray as he realizes he has destroyed his chances for happiness with the one woman who could accept and love him for what he is. The scene where, returning to Hattie, she tells him she is now married put me in mind of the scene at the end of "Crimes and Misdemeanors" where Hally (Mia Farrow) tells Cliff (Allen) that she is engaged to the repulsive Lester (Alan Alda); the heartbreak on the part of the losing men is silently and powerfully communicated. The film is beautifully shot and - as has been remarked - the period flavor is superb. The faux-documentary style - reminiscent of "Zelig" and "broadway Danny Rose" - works here to unify the episodic story. Sean Penn is very effective in this atypical role. For my money not as good as "Mighty Aphrodite" but far better than "Bullets over Broadway" and "Manhattan Murder Mystery".