Movies of the 80s: 'Stardust Memories'

Stardust Memories Directed by: Woody Allen, Written by: Woody Allen Starring: Woody Allen, Charlotte Rampling, Sharon Stone, and Daniel Stern.

Released on September 26, 1980

What's it about?

Is it possible for a comedian to transition into a challenging artist? Sandy Bates (portrayed by Woody Allen) confronts this question in a harsh reality. Audiences, clinging to his earlier slapstick comedies, react with hostility toward his recent endeavors: enigmatic black-and-white films reminiscent of European art cinema. Amidst a career retrospective, Bates faces mounting pressures from critics, the public, his lovers, and above all, himself.

As the film comes to a close, spoiler alert:

While speaking to his agent at a public phone, Sandy overhears Daisy discussing her ambivalence toward Jack. Later, Sandy arranges a private outing with Daisy. During their time together, Sandy's car breaks down, forcing them to continue on foot. They eventually reach a large field where they stumble upon a group of locals gathered in anticipation of seeing flying saucers. As the encounter unfolds, Sandy starts to lose touch with reality, hallucinating various figures from his life and films, including extraterrestrials who advise him to keep making comedies. In his delirium, he imagines a deranged fan who shoots him.

In reality, Sandy has fainted from a panic attack and dreams of receiving a posthumous award for his life's work. In this fantasy, he accepts the award in person, telling the audience that the happiest moment of his life was a simple morning in his Manhattan apartment, spending time with Dorrie while listening to Louis Armstrong's rendition of "Stardust." As he awakens from his fainting spell, he calls out Dorrie's name, which infuriates Isobel, who has been waiting by his bedside. This leads her to attempt to break up with him, prompting Sandy to leave the retrospective and chase after her onto her train. He passionately convinces her to forgive him, and they kiss as the train departs.

These events are watched by a film audience, many of whom appear as characters in the movie itself. As the film concludes, they discuss its strengths and weaknesses, reflecting on their experiences making it. When the theater empties, a figure resembling Sandy enters, retrieves his signature sunglasses from a seat, and quietly exits.

Financials

Budget: $10 million

Box Office Gross: $10.1 million

Availability

Streaming: Free on Pluto TV

Critical Reception

Roger Ebert labeled "Stardust Memories" as a disappointment, citing a lack of cohesive force to unify its various elements. Janet Maslin of the New York Times deemed it Allen's most provocative and revealing film to date. Tom Huey of the Greensboro Record criticized the film for lacking grit, charm, and magic. Conversely, Tom Moore of The Daily Tar Heel described the movie as a haunting film that marks a significant turn in Allen's impressive career. Pauline Kael from The New Yorker critiqued the film for presenting Sandy Bates as a victim while degrading his supporters.

Additional Context

Alongside the film's release, Woody Allen published a book titled "Side Effects," which explores themes akin to the absurdity of life mirrored in the movie.

Woody Allen has consistently refuted claims that "Stardust Memories" is autobiographical. In his 1994 book, "Woody Allen on Woody Allen: In Conversation with Stig Björkman," Allen clarified that critics misinterpreted the lead character as a direct representation of himself, overlooking the fictional essence intended to portray a character experiencing a severe crisis, despite his professional successes.

Current Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

IMDB: 7.2/10

Stardust Memories remains a significant, albeit controversial, part of Woody Allen's filmography, encapsulating a pivotal moment in his career and the unyielding scrutiny from his audience.

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