Celebrity (1998)

The fortunes of a husband and wife differ drastically after they divorce.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greg Mottola	...	Director
Jeff Mazzola	...	Assistant Director
Dick Mingalone	...	Camera Operator
Vladimir Bibic	...	Director of Photography
Melanie Griffith	...	Nicole Oliver
Francisco Quijada	...	Erno Delucca
Aleksa Palladino	...	Production Assistant
Dan Moran	...	Jackhammer Operator
Peter Castellotti	...	Sound Recordist (as Pete Castellotti)
A. Lee Morris	...	Second Assistant Cameraperson
Douglas McGrath	...	Bill Gaines
Kenneth Branagh	...	Lee Simon
Maurice Sonnenberg	...	Dalton Freed
Winona Ryder	...	Nola
Craig Ulmschneider	...	Daniel - Production Assistant

Storyline

New York City. Forty year old Lee Simon, a critically panned two time novelist who works as a travel writer (a job he hates) to earn a steady living, tells his shocked wife of sixteen years, English teacher Robin Simon, that he wants a divorce. Although he had not been happy with Robin for some time, she who he feels is a bundle of Catholic repressions and neuroses especially when it comes to sex, Lee finally came to the conclusion about wanting a divorce upon attending his high school reunion and seeing a roomful of losers, he believing he turning into one of them if he didn't make a drastic change. He gets a job working as a journalist for an entertainment magazine, while he writes screenplays on the side, he believing the latter a good stepping stone to finishing his third novel if the screenplays works out. The journalist job includes conducting interviews with celebrities, not only to who he can pedal his completed screenplay, but also what he quickly learns to who he has easy ...

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | celebrity | journalist | novel | television producer | 

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Taglines:

A funny look at people who will do anything to get famous... or stay famous.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sex and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Woody Allen Fall Project 1997

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,588,013, 22 November 1998

Gross USA:

$5,078,660

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,078,660

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sweetland Films, Magnolia Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Mono)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Hugh Grant on Inside the Actors Studio (1994), he was originally given the part, but lost it later to Sir Kenneth Branagh. Woody Allen cast Grant as David Perrette in Small Time Crooks (2000).

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Goofs

When Lee crashes into the shop window when driving his Aston Martin with the supermodel played by Charlize Theron on the passenger seat, it is obvious that only the driver doing the stunt is present in the car and that nobody is sitting next to him.

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Quotes

Supermodel: You're not afraid of catching germs? And you know, I'm coming down with a cold and everything...
Lee Simon: From you I'd be willing to catch terminal cancer.

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Connections

Featured in Parkinson: Episode #13.10 (1999)

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Soundtracks

Soon
(1930)
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Ray Cohen

User Reviews

Branagh is not Woody

One of the most brilliant Woody Allen's 90s' pictures, such a mockery of the "beautiful people" with some traces of a romantic comedy and some reflexions about couple troubles made in Woody. But there's an objection and that's Kenneth Brannagh. He's a great actor (no doubt about it) but in "Celebrity" you can't help thinking that he's imitating the character that Woody should've played. It's quite clear that Woody wrote this for himself, but he was too old to play a man that conquers Winona Ryder or Famke Janssen.

Last but not least, what about Judy Davis?? God, she's magnificent, one of the best actresses ever, and that scene with the prostitute is totally hilarious. Woody should've married her instead of Mia 30 years ago!!

So, if Woody would've played the role that eventually played Brannagh this could've been one of his best works. But Brannagh is not Woody, and that's noticeable.

*My rate: 7/10