Henry Saw: Cassandra's Dream

So that wasn’t that bad. Why did no one see this movie?

Woody Allen’s most recent picture, it stars Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as two brothers who both find themselves in need of a great deal of money. McGregor has investments prospects and an expensive girlfriend while Farrell has a gambling debt to pay off. They turn to their rich uncle, played by Tom Wilkinson, who tells them if they kill someone who is causing problems at his job, that he will loan them the money. It’s a semi-standard set-up for a movie but Allen manages to make it very interesting – partially thanks to his two leads.
.
.

This is by far the best Farrell has ever been in a film. His character Terry is the more conflicted one and can’t live with the guilt of what they’re even considering doing. Somehow having Farrell playing unsure, venerable, and in a way, weak is really good for him. He is actually good at eliciting sympathy. McGregor, as the more confident Ian, has a bit of Iago in him but perhaps the more relatable (and therefore chilling) situation. Terry needs the money or loan sharks will break his legs. Ian is doing it because he wants to get rich and win over a girl. Honestly, who can’t say they relate to that? But when you extend that out to the question of whether you would kill a total stranger to achieve those goals…or if you even could kill a stranger…it becomes a very interesting question.

I thought Wilkinson was well cast as the uncle. He doesn’t appear on screen that much but he’s always in the characters’ heads. Wilkinson had to have the presence to fill that space in their bran. He also has an inherent decency he carries with him. After he tells his nephews what they have to do…they’re more shocked and disappointed in their uncle than anything. Wilkinson is a very likable actor and it works to have this terrible bargain coming from this charming man, The rest of the cast was just alright. The only other standout being Hayley Atwell, who plays Angela, the woman Ian is willing to kill for. While she doesn’t have the outrageous sex appeal that Scarlet Johansson brought to Match Point, Atwell is very pretty, and unlike Johansson, brings intelligence to the role of the sultry woman that a man would risk everything for.

In the end, it is very hard not to compare this film to Match Point. Both deal with London, family, social class and murder. Match Point is the better movie but that’s not to disregard Cassandra’s Dream. Cassandra is dealing with a different strands of Match Point’s ideas of family loyalty and what men are willing to do to achieve their dreams. In Cassandra, “Blood is blood” is one of the mantras. This is more about the nuclear family than the married one found in Match Point. And while Jonathon Rhys-Meyers’ character in Match Point sort of stumbled into his upper crust life and did everything he could to stay there, I found Cassandra’s characters striving to reach that level equally compelling.

Allen’s direction is workman-like but I would be lying if I said I was “impressed” by it. The script is pretty clever, avoids pretty much all the most annoying traits of Allen’s films, and pretty much plays it straight like Match Point did. There is one clunky scene in which the characters discuss Greek Tragedy (hint hint) but I can forgive a smart man showing off a little bit, especially because I got the reference.

If this is on, and you have 105 minutes to kill, leave it on. I can honestly recommend it. I hope I’m not raising your expectations too high…the film is far from perfect. But it deserves to be seen. I’m sure for movie fans with more years on me, this plot will seem very familiar, and yeah…it is…but I can appreciate any version of a story if it brings something new to the table. Cassandra’s Dream brought good performances from the lead actors and exploration of themes I really connected with. And honestly? This Woody Allen? The one who can make a small, thought-provoking, crime- based drama? I like him. I want him to make a few more of these before we get back to the Deconstructing Harry Woody Allen.

Grade? A very solid B

Best Scene? Farrell and McGregor reveal their problems to Wilkinson, who in turn tells them what he wants them to do.