RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL

 I don't hold out much hope that in my lifetime the home of the brave that we call the USA will ever recover from the disease of sexual hypocrisy that is currently afflicting the movie industry so I'm not expecting them to 'forgive' Woody Allen anytime soon. To many Allen is guilty until proven innocent and he'll probably carry his 'guilt' to his grave so it's heartening that in Europe at least there are still people willing to work with him. He's currently got a new film at Venice though his last film, "Rifkin's Festival, which he made in San Sebastian, is still awaiting a release here.

Unfortunately it isn't very good. (although in some respects it's a cineaste's delight). This time Wallace Shawn is Allen's alter-ego, (though Allen is now of an age he could have played the role himself). He's a lecturer in film in San Sebastian for the festival because his wife, (Gina Gershon, very good), is there to promote her client's new film. He's a sexy, young and very pretentious French director played by Louis Garrel, very nicely sending up his own image, and Shawn's convinced she's having an affair with him and in typical Allen fashion Shawn is also convinced he's dying and embarks on his own pursuit of the beautiful doctor who's treating him, (Elena Anaya).

Basically this is just another excuse for Woody to give us the same old Woody shtick he's been giving us almost since "Annie Hall" and sadly, due to the law of diminishing returns, it's no longer near as funny as it once was. This time around Woody indulges himself in a series of parodies of his favourite art-house films and at least these show some imagination and have some of the best gags. There is also a smattering of good one-liners and Shawn does his best to walk in Woody's shoes but we've seen it all before and with better results. Hopefully his latest film, which may well be his last, will be a considerable improvement.