You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

After having written about psychics and seeing other films about the 'other' side... or not, I found the next title to be intriguing when I saw it listed on Netflix. To add to its appeal, it seemed to be about complex relationships.

Although I am not a huge Woody Allen fan, he does explore complex relationships as well as controversial topics and I would say 'You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger' fits his pattern. The cast is excellent with Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones, Pauline Collins, and Josh Brolin. The story is a mix of characters that are all at a critical point in their lives.

An older man, unable to face growing old decides he can stay young if he leaves his wife. He finds a much younger lover although does she love him or what he can give her? Is her youthful world what he wants for himself?

His wife is left to make the most of her life when what she counted on is gone. Their daughter is no more settled in her choices. She married a man who is unwilling to take on adult responsibilities. Affairs, mistakes, how another person's choices impact yours, and dreams of something more than what they have are all part of this film.

I liked it particularly for the feeling of 'reality' to what happened. People make choices that often have consequences that they can no longer control. Life has a way of finding a way. I read a review that complained the characters weren't well cast which surprised me as I had thought they were very well cast.

Something that also intrigued me was the question of what makes one person sexually attractive to another or to others. It's not physical beauty per se. Something else is involved and although the film doesn't answer what it is, it does illustrate that it happens through various characters and relationships. Recently I read an article saying better to use the word attractive than beautiful and I think maybe that explains more of why some people can have perfect features but not appear attractive. Woody Allen doesn't really explore this as much as illustrates how it is-- and likewise how someone without perfect features can be very attractive.

Oh and about that psychic... never mind. If it sounds interesting, rent the movie :)