A Rainy Day in New York
Dustin Chase
Woody Allen’s 48th feature-length film is another forgettable trite romantic comedy; ironic since “A Rainy Day in New York” has become one of his most controversial. Set to debut in 2018 amidst the “Me Too” movement, allegations, old and new, against the Oscar-winning filmmaker resulted in many of the cast including Chalamet, donating their salary to charity and the film being shelved. With Chalamet playing the lead role in next years sci-fi epic “Dune,” a new distributor is banking that Chalamet’s growing fanbase, and Woody Allen’s loyal one, will still want to see this film despite the controversy. Like with most of Allen’s leading male characters, they embody his own peculiar eccentricities, Chalamet (“Call Me By Your Name”) has certainly done his research, nailing the Allen persona. Fanning (“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”) accomplishes the most irritating performance of her career, allowing pop star turned actress, Selena Gomez’s subtly and sarcasm to steal the movie.
Gatsby (Chalamet) and girlfriend Ashleigh (Fanning) have left their liberal arts college in upstate New York, for a weekend in the city. Studying journalism and working for the college paper, Ashleigh has landed an interview with prominent indie film director Roland Pollard (Schreiber), the reason for their trip. Gatsby, who comes from a prominent New York family, has a gambling addiction, but almost always wins. Which is why he is treating Ashleigh to the finest hotels. At least he was until her interview turns into a major scoop with the director having an existential crisis, leading the beauty queen from Arizona on an unforgettable chase as she charms her way through the city. Left alone, the forced solitude leads Gatsby on his own journey, and by the time the lovers catch up with each other, they are two entirely different people.
It’s full of talented actors, many overacting as minor characters, roles they never would have accepted if it wasn’t Allen’s name on the script.
Trite is defined as “silly” or “commonplace.” There is more silliness in Fanning’s character and performance than I can remember in a single Woody Allen film. It borders on unwatchable as the nervous giggles, hiccups, and sexual advances give more weight to the unrelated controversy than it should. There are two blond female characters, Allen writes them both as complete morons. The three dark-haired women are intelligent, direct, and in control of every situation or scene. If you have seen even one Allen film, you know the formula of the guy and girl who start out together, won’t be together by the end of the film. Chalamet’s acting depth compensates for much of what’s missing from the film, the best moments are his quiet and soulful interactions with Gomez. Cherry Jones (“Boy Erased”) as Gatsby’s mother, in one scene, is as memorable as anything else in the entire film.
“A Rainy Day in New York” doesn’t say much about love, life, or anything really. It’s full of talented actors, many overacting as minor characters, roles they never would have accepted if it wasn’t Allen’s name on the script. This script, like nearly all of Allen’s characters, deals with the types of people few of us ever encounter in the real world. It’s questionable whether the 84-year-old understands the college-aged crowd. There is little to Gatsby, Ashleigh, or even Gomez’s Chan that feels authentic.
Final Thought
Woody Allen’s troubled ‘Rainy Day’ is trite and familiar.