Wonder Wheel (2017)

This is a fresh and brilliant story. I liked all the characters. Kate Winslet gives a brilliant performance as the story's main character. Wonderful film.

Fmovies: It's very stagey yes, but there's nothing wrong with that, in fact I think that adds to the drama. Excellent movie with a brilliant performance from Kate Winslet, ignore the critics and enjoy.

WONDER WHEEL iss a big surprise. After reading several sour reviews, I wasn't expecting much but Kate Winslet is terrific, the story is quite good, and the look of the film (luscious cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and production design by the always underrated Santo Loquasto) is fascinating.

Story has Winslet unhappily married (to Jim Belushi) and working in a clam house on Coney Island in the 1950s. She meets a lifeguard (Justin Timberlake) and embarks on a doomed love affair with him just as Belushi's daughter (Juno Temple) from a previous marriage returns after her marriage to a gangster has failed. It's sort of a Blanche du Bois meets Eugene O'Neill plot with a twist of the Sopranos.

Everyone is good but Winslet certainly steals the show. The 1950s Coney Island is something to see, and Winslet's house, practically under the giant Wonder Wheel, is awash is garish lights from the ride. Scenes move from orange to blue to red hues. Quite fascinating. Oh, and Winslet has a strange son from a previous marriage. For me this is Allen's best since BLUE JASMINE.

It's such a treat to see good actors actually getting to act in long, uncut scenes and without the camera whipping around and edited into 10-second info-bytes. The soundtrack includes a terrific number by the Mills Brothers I don't think I've ever heard before: "Coney Island Washboard."

Kate Winslet is outstanding, Jim Belushi and Juno Temple are very good, and Justin Timberlake is better than I expected. Great film from a great American filmmaker: Woody Allen.

Wonder Wheel fmovies. Don't listen to the nonsense critics say - just go see for yourselves. this is a lovely and enjoyable little movie, a glimpse to the lives of real people like you and me, in an interesting and colorful way and era.

the acting is fantastic by everyone - it is sometimes theatrical in purpose - the movie has a theater feel to it.

the shooting is great. simple but beautiful. great nuance and light work to show the changing feelings of the characters .

there are no bad or good here, it shows people with all their flaws, dilemmas, burdens and regrets... like people are. it shows real life.

I liked it. Its not a perfect film but surely not as bad as many people make it out to be. And i judge the art of the artist and not the artist himself. Its a strong drama which just like Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" centers around a woman who is trapped in an unhappy life and on the verge of a breakdown. Kate Winslet plays that woman wonderfully and gives one of her strongest performances in ages. Her voice, her expressions, everything was top notch and what the character needed. A very interesting turn. Jim Belushi also gives a very strong performance with many different facettes, its hard not to like him even though he is unlikeable in many ways. For Belushi it is new theretory as he is rather used to funny roles, while this one was rather a serious attempt. Juno Temple was fine but did not do anything outstanding. Justin Timberlake is the weak link of the film. Totally miscast. I really did not buy his performance at all. Him and the ending, which left too many open questions and strings, were the weaker parts of the film.Also some of the lighting was a bit off or even over the top. It surely is not Woody Allen's strongest film but one of his better of the decade. The whole look and feel of Corny Island of the 50s was pitch perfect as well.

I've noticed the critics who have panned this film always mention the alleged off screen 'crimes' that Mia Farrow has made it a second career to spread. Don't be fooled by those critics. This is a great, engrossing film. The performances are uniformly wonderful especially Kate Winslett. If she isn't at least nominated for an Oscar for this performance, the malice many feel for the writer/ director can only be blamed. The cinematography is beautiful as well.

What a great achievement for Woody Allen, to put out such a great film at the age of 81. He's a remarkable artist.