Stardust Memories (1980) – Follow up to Annie Hall and Manhattan taking on the same themes of relationships. This time Woody is a noted film director constantly hounded for autographs during his public time. A running theme is how people prefer his earlier, funny movies. It uses the dual temporal format of remembering his lost girlfriend played by Charlotte Ramplin, who has those piercing eyes that still sparkle but are somewhat subdued by the Black & White cinematography. She is one of those actresses that are sexy without being beautiful and it probably makes their forlorn romance more bittersweet in ways that hit differently with beautiful women that never feel attainable even when you obtain them. When you are new to Woody Allen movies it's always jarring how his character gets women, but once I learned that he is just playing a variation of Bob Hope's screen persona it kind all makes more sense. Rampling had a long career and you still here in the modern. I looked up her filmography to learn her father was the last surviving gold medalist from the 1936 Olympics, the Hitler Olympics, the one where Jesse Owens kicked everyone's ass. Her dad live to 100. Woody is 90 and still going although he seems to be slowing down. Last movie was 2023. The movie has a jarring assassination attempt by a fan that hits too close to home released in 1980 months before the same thing happened to John Lennon. The movie is not for all tastes but will be worthwhile to fans of his work during this period. I always enjoy his early 20th century jazz soundtracks.
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