Sean Penn wants everyone to know that he believes Woody Allen is innocent.

Penn is the odd star whose peeks into his thought process during interviews makes one understand why — despite his undeniable talent — he hasn’t been in a decent movie in over a decade. And his latest plan to get out of a mid-career slump? Work for Woody Allen.

Woody Allen hasn’t had a good run either, but unlike Penn, that’s not the only reason his work is no longer welcome in the upper echelon of Hollywood circles. He was accused by his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, of sexually abusing her. Allen was eventually acquitted by a judge, whose ruling stated that while his behavior was inappropriate, there was no evidence it was sexual in nature.

All that happened in 1992, as part of Allen and Farrow’s messy breakup, which ended with the then–56-year-old director entering a relationship with Farrow’s 21-year-old adopted daughter. The story was mostly forgotten and only resurfaced in comedy clubs from time to time. In 2017, however, at the height of the MeToo movement, the public revisited the case and labeled Allen a pariah. Various stars expressed regret for working with him — including Cate Blanchett, who won her second Oscar thanks to the Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine.

Allen has since taken most of his work to Europe, with only a handful of actors willing to risk their careers to collaborate with him. And now, Sean Penn appears to be one of them. Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Penn said he would work with Allen again “in a heartbeat.”

Woody Allen had already worked with Penn on the 1999 drama about a jazz musician, Sweet and Lowdown, for which Penn earned his second Oscar nomination. So the loyalty there is understandable. But Theroux has a knack for gently nudging his subjects to reveal more than they probably should. When he asked Penn whether he was unbothered by the allegations, Penn responded confidently, “The stories are mostly told by people that I wouldn’t trust with a dime. It just seems so heavily weighted in that way.”

The rest of his logic is equally, deeply flawed and disturbing.

“I am not aware of any clinical psychologist or psychiatrist or anyone I’ve ever heard talk or spoken to around the subject of pedophilia that in 80 years of life, there’s accusations of it happening only once.”

Theroux then reminded him that Ronan Farrow — a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Mia Farrow’s son — has stood by the allegations. Penn’s response? He called Farrow an “ignoramus.” It’s an odd claim, given that Farrow has spent the past a breaking some of the biggest investigative stories in modern journalism.

Sean Penn is famously litigious and allergic to criticism. He once sent an angry letter to the creators of South Park just for making fun of him, sued Lee Daniels for implying he’d been accused of domestic abuse, and has even done a few stints in jail. So when he says, “I see he’s not proven guilty, so I take him as innocent,” we kind of have to take him at his word. Penn is a man with multiple run-ins with the justice system — and clearly loves the law.

But Woody Allen is still, at best, a deeply unsettling figure. In Manhattan, he cast himself as a 42-year-old dating a 17-year-old high school student. That wasn’t fiction — it was a choice. And that’s really the heart of it.

To be clear, we’re not implying that every old man to voice their opposition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is instantly deemed irrelevant, mostly because James Cameron and Martin Scorsese to name but two are quite clearly hugely important figures in not just cinema history, but its modern iteration.

However, when you’ve also got the likes of fallen action maestro and ex-convict John McTiernan, multi-time Academy Award winner that hasn’t made a good movie in decades Francis Ford Coppola, controversial filmmaker and producer Luc Besson, and Hollywood exile Paul Verhoeven are among the number, you can see where the point is coming from.

All of the above have made stupendous features at least twice over, and the same applies to Woody Allen, even if his name in the headlines is more a cause for concern and backlash these days at the expense of anything he’s putting to film. For reasons unknown, somebody at a recent Q&A for his next film Coup de Chance decided to ask the 87 year-old heat magnets for his thoughts on Marvel, and he responded in kind.

“I’m only theoretically fed up with Marvel movies because I’ve never seen any. I don’t like those budgets, it’s an industry that has nothing to do with cinema as an artform.”

Not that anybody was expecting him to out himself as one of the Secret Invasion finale’s sole defenders, but it seems at this point folks are just asking cinema’s elder statesmen about the MCU for no other purpose than sh*ts and giggles, not that you’d get much of the latter from Allen.

Activists criticized the Venice Film Festival for what they described as its inherent ‘rape culture’ at the world premiere of the Woody Allen film Coup de Chance.

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sensitive topics.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the campaigners chanted, “No spotlight for rapist directors!” and “A rapist is a product of patriarchy,” as the filmmaker arrived on the red carpet. Nearly twenty activists participated in the protest against what they describe as the organization’s complicity in sexual violence.

The group formed a line, removed their shirts, and shouted their messages. Police swiftly escorted them off the premises.

One of the event’s organizers, Martha, a Venetian social trans-feminist collective, explained its rationale:

“We decided to protest the decision of the film festival to invite not one but three directors that have, all together, 17 sexual assault allegations against them. We are talking about powerful and influential white men, [whom] the justice system tends to treat with indulgence. What we really want is to send a message that inviting these men to the festival sends a message that normalizes and emphasizes rape culture and makes victims invisible.”

A day earlier, French activists displayed banners prominently at the Lido calling out the festival for glorifying Allen, whose daughter Dylan Farrow accused him of molesting her as a child, and Roman Polanski, who pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Allen married Dylan’s sister, Soon-Yi Previn, in 1997. He is also the father of investigative journalist and human rights lawyer Ronan Farrow, whose exposé of film producer Harvey Weinstein won a Pulitzer Prize. Polanski’s The Palace is up for the esteemed Golden Lion Award at the festival, whereas Allen’s film isn’t competing.

The 80th Venice Film Festival has faced significant public relations challenges due to its laissez-faire stance on gender-based violence. Authorities detained Franco-Spanish actor Gabriel Guevara in Venice on Saturday because of an outstanding warrant for an alleged sexual assault. After his arrest, organizers withdrew his Best Young Actor award.

Allen, Polanski, and Guevara all share a connection: they are present under the banner of the French film industry. It’s striking that has sent three ambassadors to Italy to remind the world why it is considered one the most dangerous places for women to exist in Europe.

In the year of 2023, it would almost feel like some tasteless, ridiculous joke to learn that filmmakers Woody Allen and Roman Polanski are still somehow having their movies shown at larger film festivals. But as disastrous as that would sound as a mere joke, I regret to inform you that both men are actually receiving high honors for their latest films with the 2023 Venice Film Festival set to screen the projects.

As per The Wrap, Allen’s French thriller Coup de Chance and Polanski’s black comedy The Palace are both slated to receive their world premieres at this year’s festival. On that same note, the directors are being placed in a category up against Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and William Friedkin’s The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, but Allen and Polanski in the conversation has notably triggered backlash.

In the past, the ever-popular festival had boasted a variety of star-studded directors and creatives, but including films from 2 of the most disgraced filmmakers in history definitely feels like a sign that the dark days are truly upon us. Taking into that both directors have received a whirlwind of controversy surrounding sexual abuse allegations over the years, it feels like an understatement for me to say that showcasing their movies is not a good look for cinema.

In fact, one has to sit and wonder why both filmmakers haven’t been fully banished from the realm of cinema already, but giving them the spotlight absolutely doesn’t feel like the best approach. But, who knows? Perhaps Allen can create huge marketing for Coup de Chance by ing another Instagram Live with Alec Baldwin.

With actors striking across the United States, there were concerns about whether the Fall’s most important film festivals would go on as planned, with Venice arguably topping the list. Just four days ago, Luca Guadagnino pulled his electrifying release Challengers from the festival’s line-up, given the likely absence of his cast (composed of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor) to promote the film, and pushed its release from September to April 2024.

Regardless, it looks like the festival held on to a good chunk of its program, with some household names taking their new films to the stunning Italian city for their exclusive premieres. The list includes David Fincher’s Netflix thriller The Killer with Michael Fassbender, Michael Mann’s Ferrari biopic with Adam Driver, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla about Priscilla Presley, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s surprise release Evil Does Not Exist, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Emma Stone-led Poor Things, Ava DuVernay’s Origin, and Wes Anderson’s short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar which will be showing out of competition. The presence of films by Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, who have both been involved in sexual abuse scandals, is once again attracting major backlash.

Official selection: In competition

Adagio; dir. Stefano Sollima
The Beast; dir. Bertrand Bonello
Io Capitano; dir. Matteo Garrone
Comandante; dir. Edoardo de Angelis
El Conde; dir. Pablo Larraín
Die Theorie von Allem; dir. Timm Kröger
Dogman; dir. Luc Besson
Enea; dir. Pietro Castellitto
Evil Does Not Exist; dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Ferrari; dir. Michael Mann
Finalmente L’Alba; dir. Saverio Costanzo
Green Border; dir. Agnieszka Holland
Holly; dir. Fien Troch
Hors-Saison; dir. Stéphane Brizé
The Killer; dir. David Fincher
Lubo; dir. Giorgio Diritti
The Promised Land; dir. Nikolaj Arcel
Maestro; dir. Bradley Cooper
Memory; dir. Michel Franco
Origin; dir. Ava DuVernay
Poor Things; dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
Priscilla; dir. Sofia Coppola
Woman Of; dir. Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert

Orizzonti section (Horizons)

A Cielo Abierto, dirs. Mariana Arriaga, Santiago Arriaga
El Paraiso, dir. Enrico Maria Artale
Behind the Mountains, dir. Mohamed Ben Attia
The Red Suitcase, dir. Fidel Devkota
Tatami, dirs. Guy Nattiv, Zar Amir Ebrahimi
Paradise Is Burning, dir. Mika Gustafson
The Featherweight, dir. Robert Kolodny
Invelle, dir. Simone Massi
Hesitation Wound, dir. Selman Nacar
Heartless, dirs. Nara Normande, Tiao
Una Sterminata Domenica, dir. Alain Perroni
City of Wind, dir. Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
Explanation for Everything, dir. Gabor Reisz
Gasoline Rainbow, dirs. Bill Ross, Turner Ross
En Attendant la Nuit, dir. Céline Rouzet
Housekeeping for Beginners, dir. Goran Stolevski
Shadow of Fire, dir. Shinya Tsukamoto
Dormitory, dir. Nehir Tuna

Orizzonti extra

Bota Jone, dir. Luana Bajrami
Forever Forever, dir. Anna Buryachkova
The Rescue, dir. Daniela Goggi
In the Land of Saints and Sinners, dir. Robert Lorenz
Day of the Fight, dir. Jack Huston
Felicita, dir. Micaela Ramazzotti
Pet Shop Boys, dir. Olmo Schnabel
Stolen, dir. Karan Tejpal
L’Homme d’Argile, dir. Anais Tellenne

Out of Competition: Series

D’Argent et de Sang (episodes 1-12), dirs. Xavier Giannoli, Frederic Planchon
I Know Your Soul (episodes 1&2), dirs. Alen Drljevic, Nermin Hamzagic

Out of Competition: Non-fiction

Hollywoodgate, dir. Ibrahim Nash’at
Amor, dir. Virginia Eleuteri Serpieri
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus, dir. Neo Sora
Frente a Guernica (Version Integrale), dirs. Yervant Gianikian, Angela Ricci Lucchi
Enzo Jannacci Vengo Anch’io, dir. Giorgio Verdelli
Menus Plaisirs – Les Troisgros, dir. Frederick Wiseman

Out of Competition: Fiction

Aggro Dr1ft; dir. Harmony Korine
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; dir. William Friedkin
Coup de Chance, dir. Woody Allen
Daaaaaali!; dir. Quentin Dupieux
Hit Man; dir. Richard Linklater
L’ordine del Tempo; dir. Liliana Cavani
Making Of; dir. Cédric Kahn
The Penitent; dir. Luca Barbareschi
The Palace; dir. Roman Polanski
Society of the Snow; dir. J.A. Bayona
Snow Leopard. dir: Pema Tseden
Vivants; dir. Alix Delaporte
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, dir. Wes Anderson

The 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival will take place between Aug. 30 and Sept. 9. If the SAG-AFTRA strike, which has been underway since July 14, persists, actors represented by the labor union, and who would be promoting studio and streamer films, will not be able to attend the festival, including names like Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver, Michael Fassbender, and more. The festival’s artistic director Alberto Barbera said, at a press conference for the festival that took place Tuesday, July 25, that he hopes “actors who are in independent [U.S.] productions – and there are many in Venice – will be coming.”

Content warning: This story mentions allegations of sexual assault.

Scarlett Johansson might be the highest-grossing actress of all time thanks to the MCU, but that hasn’t removed her from her past collaborators, including those with disgraced director Woody Allen.

In 1992, Allen was accused of sexually molesting Dylan Farrow, his adoptive daughter whom he shared with his ex-wife Mia Farrow, when she was a child. News outlets reported that the incident occurred when Farrow was 7-years-old. An investigation would soon occur after Farrow’s pediatrician, who was treating her then, reported the sexual molestation claims to the authorities. 

Immediately following the accusation, Allen denied it and attempted to get custody of the three children he shared with Mia, which was rejected. In regards to the investigation, the examiners would later determine that Farrow “was not abused,” according to CNN. The publication also stated, that the judge, who was working the case at the time, found that the evidence provided was inconclusive. Since then, Allen has maintained his innocence while Farrow continues to share her story. 

Johansson recalled her time working with Allen during an interview on Table for Two podcast, having most recently collaborated with him in 2008 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. In the Dec. 13 podcast, Johansson disclosed while shooting the movie that many people approached them because of how revered Allen was in the country despite the accusation. 

“I would be talking to Rebecca Hall, we’re across from each other at, you know, a little café in Barcelona, lamenting our problems, and then behind Rebecca Hall would be 600 spectators, 50 paparazzi, people talking during the take. It was a nightmare.

“Honestly, I have to say, I love my job and I’m not complaining about it but maybe actors are kind of, in a weird way, sort of gearing up for those moments because you have to just suspend your disbelief and zone out. We do it all the time. Whatever’s going on in your life, whatever’s going on in reality, you kind of figure out how to use it or lose it.”

Further in the conversation, Johansson opened up about another project she worked on with Allen, which was 2006’s Scoop. She revealed that she saw a different side of the director during the movie after he couldn’t get a particular line right.

“It was the silliest, most goofiest scene where at the end of it … he had to say something like, ‘Well, I’ve gotta be off, it’s spotted dick at the hotel tonight. And he couldn’t keep it together. It took a couple takes and was like, giggles, giggles, giggles. Then it was hours of this one take. He was so angry with himself to the point where it was hysteria.”

Johansson shared that Allen’s mistakes were so detrimental to the film that the crew had to stop production, which ultimately upset them because they had to pull long hours for their job. This was all resolved after the staff decided to add what was deemed the best take.

If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

The recent announcement stating Woody Allen planned to retire after the release of his next film, Wasp 22, as well as his intention to write a novel, is seemingly a misunderstanding. In a statement, a representative for the 86 year old director said:

“Woody Allen never said he was retiring, nor did he say he was writing another novel. He said he was thinking about not making films as making films that go straight or very quickly to streaming platforms is not so enjoyable for him, as he is a great lover of the cinema experience. Currently, he has no intention of retiring and is very excited to be in Paris shooting his new movie, which will be the 50th.”

The confusion stems from an interview Allen did with the Spanish magazine La Vanguardia in which he said, “My idea, in principle, is not to make more movies and focus on writing.”

Allen is currently promoting his most recent film, Wasp 22, described as a “poisonous romantic thriller” than he compares to 2005’s Match Point. After the #MeToo movement and the HBO docies Allen v. Farrow, allegations resurfaced that the director molested his daughter Dylan, and Allen has been all but blacklisted from Hollywood. Amazon shelved his film A Rainy Day in New York, and the publishing house Hachette cancelled the publication of his memoir, Apropos of Nothing.

This is why the director has returned to Europe with his previous film Rifikin’s Festival, and why Wasp 22 will be shot in Paris with an all-French cast.

After more than seven decades behind the camera, cinema royalty Woody Allen is apparently retiring once he finishes his latest film, Wasp 22. Although the 87-year-old director flirted with the idea in a recent interview, he seemed to leave himself a little wiggle room.

Speaking with the newspaper, LaVanguardia, he said that he suggested it’s time to put away his director’s chair. Allen told the publication that he wants to turn his attention to penning a novel, explaining that the “idea, in principle, is not to make more movies and focus on writing.”

Allen has been hinting at retirement for months. During a June Instagram Live interview with actor Alec Baldwin, the director commented that the “thrill is gone” in regards to filmmaking. 

“I’ll probably make at least one more movie,” Variety reported at that time. “When I used to do a film, it’d go into a movie house all across the country. Now you do a movie and you get a couple weeks in a movie house. Maybe six weeks or four weeks, and then it goes right to streaming or pay-per-view…It’s not the same…It’s not as enjoyable to me.

“I don’t get the same fun doing a movie and putting it in a theater. It was a nice feeling to know that 500 people were seeing it once…I don’t know how I feel about making movies. I’m going to make another one, and I’ll see how it feels.”

Currently, Allen is in pre-production for the Paris-set Wasp 22. 

Off set, Allen has been steeped in allegations and controversy over the decades. From his affair with his adopted stepdaughter, Soon-Yi Previn, whom he married in 1997, to claims of sexual abuse, which he has denied, the acclaimed director’s legacy has been tarnished by the scandals, despite avoiding any legal judgements.

Throughout his career, the writer/director has been draped in accolades and critical praise. He has taken home Oscar gold four times, winning Best Director in 1978 for Annie Hall. He also has scored Academy Awards for his screenwriting talents, winning Best Original Screenplay honors for Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters in 1987, and most recently in 2012 for Midnight in Paris. 

Alec Baldwin and Woody Allen sat down for an Instagram Live chat on Tuesday morning, for some unknown reason, which went as well as one might expect between a 64-year-old man and an 86-year-old man trying to navigate technology under the weight of the massive chips on their shoulders.

It’s unclear why they didn’t just head to a studio or other platform to host their conversation — except just kidding, as obviously, the reasons are not only abundant but actually crystal clear. In addition to the fact that Baldwin is still under investigation for the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film Rust, the actor’s career has been marred by public incidents of losing his temper over the years. And then there’s Allen, who has pretty much become persona non grata in Hollywood since the #MeToo movement — which seemed like a long time coming.

The problems started pretty much as soon as Allen logged on, itting outright that he didn’t know what an Instagram was but that he did have a Facebook although someone handles that business for him. After explaining that Instagram is the equivalent of “Radio City Music Hall for millennials,” Baldwin then inexplicably lamented about the legalization of marijuana, which he said has “everybody just zonked out looking at their phones,” to people watching the conversation on their phones.

All told, Allen only dropped off of the 55-minute-long interview three times during the first half-hour, the first of which caused Baldwin to yell in Spanish at someone offscreen to help with the technical difficulties. “They need to be in a room with like, the best Wi-Fi in the house,” he instructed someone on the phone after the second time.

But in between technical issues, the two men found plenty of clouds to shake their fists at. First and foremost, the state of film today — as Baldwin complained whereas “you used to make an appointment” to go sit in a room to watch a movie with your popcorn, Raisinets, and Dr. Pepper, now people like to watch movies at home where they have the audacity to pause to use the bathroom, make a pitcher of martinis, or make some guacamole. He’s so close to getting it!

Allen, who is shooting his next movie in Paris this coming fall, also itted to also feeling left behind by the current state of the film industry.

“When I used to do a film, it’d go into a movie house all across the country. Now you do a movie and you get a couple weeks in a movie house,” he complained. “Maybe six weeks or four weeks, and then it goes right to streaming or pay-per-view. It’s not the same … It’s not as enjoyable to me.”

“I don’t get the same fun as putting on a movie and putting it in a movie house,” he continued. “It was a nice feeling to know 500 people were seeing it at the same time. I don’t know how I feel about making movies. I’m going to make another one and I’ll see how it feels.”

We have to wonder if either Baldwin or Allen understand just how much it costs to see a movie in the theater these days, not to mention inflation being a strain on many families’ budgets or people understandably being reluctant to turn to theaters after a very much still ongoing pandemic. Or that audiences still do show up in droves for some movies, just not the ones these guys have been making.

At any rate, the handful of people watching on Twitter understandably had thoughts and questions about why the interview was taking place, why Baldwin appeared disheveled wearing a golf visor, and why he thought his housekeeper could fix Allen’s Wi-Fi connection.

Another wondered if perhaps there wasn’t maybe another reason for Allen not making many films these days.

Others pointed out some more uncomfortable facts:

Comedian Jake Fogelnest, on the other hand, saw the potential for technical headaches shortly after the pair announced their conversation on Monday.

Baldwin and Allen have a history of working together on the 2012 film, To Rome With Love, but maybe the director will write him in a part for his next movie. With Baldwin expecting his seventh child with his wife of 10 years this week, Hilaria Baldwin, he’s certainly got the mouths to feed.

Alec Baldwin, who is still under an investigation for manslaughter, has announced a livestream with Woody Allen, who has been alleged to have done horrendous things as well. Okay!

In what should really be a line-up for a festival called “Old Men With Extensive Controversy Sections on Wikipedia” Fest, the duo will be teaming up on the social media app for a live stream Q&A.

Repeating himself several times like a machine gun with bullets, Baldwin gave confirmation to the Instagram Live event absolutely nobody asked for.

Tuesday. The 28th. 10:30 eastern time, I’m going to be doing an Instagram live… with this man [shows camera Woody Allen’s book] … Tuesday, the 28th, 10:30 eastern time.

Baldwin has decided now of all times is when the world needs two highly divisive figures to talk about… something. Since the fatal prop gun shooting on the set of Rust, Baldwin has been very particular with his public appearances.

The investigation into the shooting incident was concluded in April, with the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau fining Rust’s production company $137,000 for safety violations. Baldwin continues to dispute pulling the trigger that led to the death of Halyna Hutchins, but the court of public opinion is not yet satisfied.

Meanwhile, Allen has continually faced public scrutiny over allegations of sexually assaulting his adoptive daughter.

For those clamoring for the Baldwin and Allen double act, there’s a rumor it might be happening on June 28 at 10:30 EST (UTC +5).

Bringing the curtain down on a long and fruitful stint with Sony Pictures, Woody Allen‘s next feature film has been acquired by Amazon Studios. Still in search of an official title, it’s understood the drama is a 1930s period flick, and will be – surprise! – a romantic comedy. What’s more, in keeping with Allen’s M.O. the untitled project has pulled together a starry ensemble, with Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, and Ken Stott all on board. Announced via press release, the acquisition means that, following a limited theatrical release in the summer, Allen’s feature will only be available on the company’s Amazon Prime.

“Like all beginning relationships, there is much hope, mutual affection, and genuine goodwill — the lawsuits come later,” joked Allen in the statement. Amazon Studios head Roy Price had a much drier, more generic comment. “Woody Allen is a brilliant filmmaker,” he said. “We’re so proud to be in business with him for both his next film and his first ever TV series.”

Not to be confused with Allen’s TV partnership with Amazon Studios, the illustrious filmmaker has also hatched a six-episode television series starring Elaine May, Miley Cyrus and, of course, himself. It’s said to be set in the 1960s, with Allen assuming writing and directing duties. Expect more news of Woody Allen‘s new feature film – and indeed Amazon’s television series – to emerge in the coming months.

Although Woody Allen’s latest, 1920s-set romantic caper Magic in the Moonlight, is just opening this week, news about the prolific helmer’s next project is already emerging. We had previously learned that the untitled film would be set in modern-day Rhode Island and be a “contemporary story” that centers on “academics, graduate students, and middle- and working – class folks.” Additionally, it was revealed that the cast would include Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey and Jamie Blackley. Now that Allen is rolling cameras on the pic in Rhode Island, some more news about the project has broken. According to the film’s executive producer Ron Chez, who spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times about working with Allen, the new movie is  “a murder mystery, set on a college campus.” The Chicago Tribune added that it is a “serious-ish drama.” So, are we looking at something similar to Match Point? Or perhaps a dark comedy like Crimes and Misdemeanors, but with a more economical bent? Or will this new film be something entirely new for Allen after the familiarity of Magic in the Moonlight? Only time will tell.