Interiors

Directed by Woody Allen, Interiors follows three sisters (Diane Keaton’s Renata, Mary Beth Hurt’s Joey, and Kristin Griffith’s Flyn) as they attempt to cope with the sudden separation of their parents (E.G. Marshall’s Arthur and Geraldine Page’s Eve). Filmmaker Allen delivers a slow, austere drama that admittedly fares rather poorly in its opening stretch, as the movie, which progresses at a far-from-brisk pace, suffers from an arm’s-length vibe that’s compounded by Allen’s less-than-naturalistic approach to his own screenplay (ie the director’s attempts at aping the feel of a Bergman drama are, at times, fairly strained). It’s clear, then, that Interiors benefits substantially from the top-notch work of its various players, as the uniformly stellar performances go a long way towards initially compensating for the picture’s far-from-spellbinding atmosphere (ie the actors’ efforts here heighten the impact of even the most minor of sequences, ultimately). And although the movie never becomes as engrossing or captivating as Allen has obviously intended, Interiors eventually progresses into a thoroughly watchable second half that boasts a handful of overtly engaging sequences (eg a fantastic interlude wherein Arthur brings his new girlfriend, Maureen Stapleton’s Pearl, to meet his skeptical, less-than-impressed daughters) – which does, in the final analysis, cement the film’s place as a hit-and-miss endeavor that closes on a predictably downbeat (yet relatively stirring) note.

**1/2 out of ****