Woody thinks this is his worst movie!? I can't imagine why - it's breezily entertaining and visually fantastic. The only real negative is Charlize Theron as the femme fatale, but she's not in it much. Not as funny as his earlier funny movies but still an entertaining romp. 8/10.
What's the Spanish for drunken bum?
I think Woody might be right. I always heard he hated Manhattan though. In that case he would be wrong.
I don't remember Jade Scorpion too well, but I certainly don't remember it having anything like charm or humor. Coming off Small Time Crooks, which I might actually descibe as "breezy" or an "entertaining romp," I remember Jade Scorpion as painfully unfunny, and forced. It's definitely the worst Woody movie I've seen (I never saw Anything Else though, which is now universally thought of as his worst.) You've seen The Purple Rose of Cairo, I assume? I know you've seen Sherlock Jr.. Anyway, Purple Rose manages to pull off a delicate balancing act between being a nostalgia piece paying homage to the movies of the 1930s and the experience of seeing them, while still managing to critique the attitudes of Hollywood and the naivete of buying too far into the fantasy. Jade Scorpion is Woody straight buying into the fantasy, making a film that pays tribute to the great films of yesteryear, that recreates sets and bits of staging, that, if I am not mistaken, tries to approximate some of the acting style. All the while Woody riffs like he's watching the movie himself and poking fun of it (just as in every Woody movie), but I don't buy it because the presentation is too loving and the jokes too unfunny.
It's not quite about the same kind of film (Jade Scorpion references Bogart a lot, but I think what it really wants to recall is a Philo Vance or Charlie Chan mystery or something), but the Coens' The Man Who Wasn't There pulls off this act better, maybe because its weirdness offsets its more obvious attempts at serious pastiche. Maybe it's the b&w (wouldn't The Curse of the Jade Scorpion make more sense in monochrome? Aside from, you know, the title?)
This is also the moment where the sight of an ancient-looking Woody trying to bed a cute young thang crosses the line from somewhat humorously repulsive to just plain ridiculous, not to mention oozing with self-delusion disguised as self-deprecation. It's as though he had really lost touch with reality here (I'm not sure he's recovered: all of his films since, somewhat better as most of them have been, have all been too knowing of their characters and situations, and through their knowing, often contemptuous).
Dan Aykroyd is completely wasted - he's the only member of the cast with any comedy credentials to speak of (well, him and Wallace Shawn) and he gets stuck playing a sadsack who's the only straight character. Hell, even Charlize was funny when she was on Arrested Development years later, so I blame Woody's writing and direction for her shrillness here. I presume there are other people in the cast too. Helen Hunt? Christ.
Woody followed this up with Hollywood Ending, which is equally slight but has some funny bits. After that he made two more comedies which were by most accounts abysmal (I never saw Melinda and Melinda either, because it had Will Ferrell in it) and then seemed to give up the comedy game altogether, which was just as well. Have you watched any of the rest of these?
"My wife? I wouldn't even have her fingerprints in the house."
I think you're being too hard on it! It's subjective of course but I went in fully expecting it to be devoid of laughs, since that's what most of the reviews say. I told myself that if it didn't make me laugh in the first 5 minutes I'd turn it off, and sure enough I laughed. Maybe I just haven't gotten sick of Woody Allen the performer like so many have seemed to. And I'm no Helen Hunt fan (do those exist?) but she's harmless in this. Well, I shouldn't say harmless since she's got a pretty nasty lack of chemistry with Woody, but it's not fatal.
Nope, I haven't seen Purple Rose of Cairo - or Hollywood Ending or Melinda and Melinda. Actually, I haven't seen much of Woody's more recent stuff. I think the last one I saw was Match Point, which is a shame because a few of his since then have looked interesting. And hey, maybe since I liked this I'll like Scoop too! And I'll definitely be seeing Whatever Works because I'm a huge Larry David fan. It'll be my first Woody Allen movie in the theater, if you can believe that.
What's the Spanish for drunken bum?
You must see Purple Rose of Cairo because it's one of his very best, and, in contrast, to this one, I've heard Woody say it was his favorite.
It's subjective of course but I went in fully expecting it to be devoid of laughs
Hollywood Ending is one I had trouble liking because the idea was so ridiculous, but it was funny. I look forward to seeing it again. Cassandra's Dream is just about the only later Woody Allen movie that I just did not like. I found it boring and didn't care about any of the characters, not to mention Colin Farrel was so over-exposed at that time I got sick of him. I should see it again to make sure. A lot of these movies grow on me. Match Point I really liked, but not as much as Crimes and Misdemeanors which it is compared to.
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You'll enjoy Scoop if you like Jade Scorpion. I own a lot of Woody's movies, and three of them (this, Scoop, and Manhattan Murder Mystery) I watch once a year.
In fact, I'm about to watch Jade -- which is what brought me here. It has a certain giddy quality -- like the other two -- that makes it easily rewatchable. Love the music, too.
In his book Woody said he was ready to pay the studio not to release Manhattan ... and isn't it funny that is one of his most popular movies! I love Manhattan. I am looking all over streaming to try to find Curse of the Jade Scorpion, it is very funny. Tonight I watched "Scoop" with Scarlett Johanson and I did not remember it being so funny.
Jade Scorpion is hilarious with all the things going on at the same time and the connection developing between Woody and Helen Hunt who is perfect as the tough business reorganizer.
I just finished watching it, I think for the 3rd time so obviously I agree with you. I really enjoy it. You know, Woody claims to be a Bob Hope fan from childhood and this film strikes me as Woody's homage to the kind of breezy, comedy/mystery films Hope made in the 40's. (Think of My Favorite Blonde)
It must be hard for Woody to have every new film compared to Manhattan and Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!
Bob Hope is a good analogy, how he is half speaking and wisecracking to the audience in his movies.
shareYou think Charlize is the problem? She's absolutely gorgeous and plays the one-note Veronica Lake-like bombshell perfectly. And she's barely in it compared to Woody Allen's mugging and Helen Hunt's insult after insult. I liked it as it started. Rich period detail and a likable ensemble. But the story is pretty ridiculous and drags on. Hunt and Allen had no chemistry and yet they end up having to carry the entire movie.
I agree with the other poster; if you want to see Woody do a period film that works (by not trying too hard to be funny), then check out The Purple Rose of Cairo.
COTJS is one of my favorites. If it was on Amazon right now I'd buy it for my online library. I think Helen Hunt is great in that you hate her in the beginning and they hate each other and over time they are brought together. Charlize plays the Lisbeth Scott Bogie type role, rich promiscuous clever girl with the heart of gold.
share8/10
Ackroyd is not one of my faves, in fact all the original Saturday Night Live comedians I pretty much cannot stand, but I thought he was pretty good as the 2 dimensional boss. If I'm not complaining about him he must be doing OK! ;-)
shareI sort of get what he was trying to do with this film but it is just too silly. It is a good looking film but compared to similar films like Purple Rose of Cairo it is a bit too blunt. And he probably shouldn't have cast himself: he looked instantly unconvincing in the role.
Still an amusing film but one of his weaker ones.