Kelvin Says Hats Off:
Recently saw “Wonder Wheel: Spin City.” Conclusion: 7/10. Kate Winslet is one of the finest actors of our time and she is what really makes this movie work. For better and worse, Woody Allen’s latest film doesn’t differ much in tone from his recent work, but it has a larger presence. The movie doesn’t seek to build any heroes and Winslet’s character, while at times sympathetic, is hardly a good person. What her performance makes so real is the look it gives at a person who is unsatisfied and disappointed with her life. Her desperation to find an escape to some sense of a dream she once had is all that’s left that drives her. How far she’ll go to continue holding on provides the movie’s inherent tension. It’s a tension that captivates. Her role is demanding but she continually delivers. The film’s setting in a mid-century Coney Island highlights this sense of whimsical decay. What’s more, the lighting and accenting deftly heighten the tone that Allen is trying to capture. It’s a tone that is undoubtedly too oppressive for some people’s sensibilities. However, in the end, it’s that tone and Winslet’s performance that come together to make this a worthwhile ride. #RockMeMamaLikeAWonderWheel #TheMeaningOfLifeguard #HeyMickeyYoureSoFine #MyLittleConey #KickInTheArson