Wonder Wheel 2017

     There is a LOT of drama, arguing and tension in this film!!  The setting is in Coney Island and the location becomes one of the characters.  Ginny’s son from a previous marriage is always starting fires and he needs therapy to try stop this from constantly happening?  Ginny is married to Humpty.  Mickey likes Ginny until he meets Carolina.  Mickey is the lifeguard at the beach.  Ginny and Carolina live together, they both work at a clam shack and there is friction.  Humpty is very worried about his adult daughter Carolina!!  She married a gangster and to keep from receiving a sentence for crimes, she sings about her husband to get herself off.  Ginny.  Humpty thinks her husband will send men to get even with Carolina?  Twice, the goons Angelo and Nick stop in to talk to Humpty about the whereabouts of Carolina!!  
     
     This is a dark drama Woody Allen drama.  It doesn’t have any nudity or on-screen violence but it's not intended for kids.  It deals with serious themes of adultery, suicide, murder and the consequences for past actions.  Mob killings and domestic abuse are discussed and implied but not shown.  The only child character is a pyromaniac and he’s headed for serious trouble.  Drinking and smoking are presented negatively but are part of the building stress of the film's third act.  Language is infrequent but included and there are also some insults and derogatory ethnic terms.  As usual for an Allen film, it's packed with well-known actors, including Kate Winslet, Jim Belushi, Juno Temple and Justin Timberlake.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
     
161 min, Drama directed and written by Woody Allen with Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Robert C. Kirk, Kate Winslet, Jim Belushi, Jack Gore, Tommy Nohilly, Tony Sirico, Steve Schirripa, John Doumanian, Tom Guiry, Max Casella, Gregory Dann, Bobby Slayton, Michael Zegarski.

Note:  Imdb 6.2* out of 10* with 24,881 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 31% with 199 critics 41% with 1675 ratings, The Irish Times 3* out of 5*, Roger Ebert 1 1/2* Glenn Kenny, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, RollingStone 3* out of 4* Peter Travers, 4* out of 5* Michael Ordona, age 15+, 1* positive messages, positive role models, violence, 2* sex, language, 3* drinking drugs & smoking,

Special Note:  The title, Wonder Wheel, in addition to referring to the Coney Island Ferris Wheel, is metaphorical for the characters' behaviors and mindsets.  When describing the title, Woody Allen stated "The view is beautiful from the Wonder Wheel, but you're going no place?"  It has an element of romance to it, an element of beauty to it but ultimately, an element of futility.”  With the exception of Ginny and Humpty's apartment, the movie was shot entirely on location at Coney Island.  Many of the existing businesses were altered to resemble shops or restaurants from the 1950s.  The Wonder Wheel is still in operation but the Parachute Drop, seen in the background ceased operation in 1964 and survives only as a tower.  It's nicknamed the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn.  Angelo and Nick are acted by Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa.  Previously they worked with Tony Soprano in the Sopranos series.  

Mistakes:  When Justin Timberlake is on his lifeguard stand talking to Kate Winslet, a modern tanker cruises by in the distance.  The benches on the boardwalk are a new design and they were installed a few years ago after the boardwalk was repaired.  In the street scene near the elevated train there is an older type fire hydrant which has an anti-tamper top that was not used until the 1990's.