Melinda and Melinda

This darned DVD sat in my pile of opened mail for about two weeks. Selected because it's directed by Woody Allen, my hopes were not high because his comedies of the last decade were flat. I was surprised, and really enjoyed this movie.

The plot revolves around the character Melinda. Two playwrights describe how they would apply their tragic and comedic adaptations to a difficult situation Melinda had already experienced. The result was a treat.

The cast includes.....

• Radha Mitchell as Melinda Robacheau, a handsome lady who through the movie played both parts of Melinda, I thought it was two different actresses.
• Jonny Lee Miller as Lee the selfish actor husband of Laurel.
• Chloë Sevigny as Laurel playing the reserved wife of Lee and involved in affair with Ellis. Sevigny first caught my eye in Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco where her part as Alice Kinnon was very similar to role of well bred bored woman.
• Matt Servitto as Jack Oliver, this man played the chief FBI agent in the Sopranos, a role that took a huge left turn in the last episode.
• Brooke Smith as Cassie, Laurel and Melinda's friend from college. As a teenager, Smith played the girl in the well in the movie Silence of the Lambs.
• Will Ferrell as Hobie, Susan's husband and crazy Melinda's admirer.
• Amanda Peet as Susan, Hobie's husband, necessary to the plot but irritating to watch.
• Steve Carell as Walt Wagner, Hobie's friend, just a small part.
• Josh Brolin as Greg Earlinger, Mr. Perfect.
• Daniel Sunjata as Billy Wheeler, another Mr. Perfect. This guy is on the show Rescue Me.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ellis Moonsong the piano playing composer and object of both crazy Melinda's and Laurel's attraction.
• Wallace Shawn as Sy, the playwright with the comic interpretation of Melinda's predicament. I've always thought this man looked like a turtle, Shawn did a great job in another of Allen's movies, Radio Days.
• Larry Pine as Max the playwright with the tragic interpretation. This actor I recognize but cannot place.

Score 42 of 50, if you like Woody Allen movies and have been put off lately, this might bring you back

• Character development 10 of 10. Character development on parallel planes.
• Writing 8 of 10. Not Annie Hall but good.
• Photography 7 of 10. Standard Allen shots of New York with drab exteriors and giant apartments.
• Acting 8 of 10. Good cast, Will Farrell did a good job, in control.
• Concept 9 of 10. Believable, possible.