r ycilo-r\v\Too is comii\gpto (Radha Mitchell) drops in on college friend Laurel (Chloe Sevigny) and actor husband Lee (Jonny Lee Miller), interrupting their dinner party with a tale of a broken marriage in St. Louis, a lost custody battle and a drinking problem. The couple let Melinda stay with them while she gets her life in order, even as theirs are slowly coming apart. In typical Allen style, what unfolds is messy and absurd, but not grim. The comic saga begins in similar fashion, with downstairs neighbor Melinda (Mitchell again) barging in on a dinner party that filmmaker Susan (Amanda Peet) and actor hus- band Hobie (Ferrell) are throwing for a prospective investor. This opening also develops into a rumba of con- cealed feelings, frustrated ambition and changed partners. Allen quickly erases the distinction between the two storylines, so that the "tragic" tale is suffused with gen- tle humor and the "comic" narrative has acres of angst. His theme isn't that there is a thin line between laughter and tears but that the inter- pretation of events is in the eye of the beholder. Alas, it is human nature that our immersion in our own circumstances prevents us from seeing the humor and ridiculousness that are obvious to others. It may not be Chekhov — or even vintage Woody — but it's not bad. Unfortunately, the casting of Mitchell as both Melindas — com- bined with forgettable performances by the nondescript supporting play- ers, except for Sevigny — makes it difficult to regain our bearings every time the stories switch. Yet Melinda and Melinda gives hope that Allen still has one or two great movies in him. This is his best-looking picture in years, thanks to the rich amber hues achieved by veteran cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (McCabe and Mrs. Miller). And while it's not a completely sat- isfying film — or even a Jewish one — it has flashes of inspiration. For Woody fans who endured his last three duds, that's enough. ❑ HOLLYWOOD'S HOLOCAUST from page 46 Interestingly enough, television, via plays and even game shows like This Is Your Lift, were the main out- lets for any depiction of the Holocaust during the upbeat 1950s. The dam somewhat broke with Sidney Lumet's film The Pawnbroker in 1965. Lumet's "quick flashback" approach to the memories of a Holocaust survivor mirrored the beginnings of memory returning to the general public. The dam really broke with the tel- evision mini-series Holocaust, which aired in 1980. Anker's film covers the criticism of the series: It was just too much a soap opera. However, Holocaust got huge rat- ings in America and Europe and caused thousands of survivors to begin to tell their stories. Anker goes on to cover, in some depth, the more realistic and graphic depictions of the Holocaust in the miniseries War and Remembrance and in Spielberg's Schindler's List. The film doesn't shy away from addressing the moral dilemmas about making any film on the Holocaust; just about every intervie- wee addresses the subject. The impressive list of commenta- tors includes directors Steven Spielberg, Sidney Lumet and Dan Curtis, as well as film historian Neal Gabler and Holocaust experts Thane Rosenbaum and Michael Berenbaum. Particularly effective are comments by survivors like producer Branko Lustig and actor Robert Clary. The narration is by Gene Hackman. ❑ Bill/1111\g lam Birmingham Trunk Show Event Thursday, April 7, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. • Friday, April 8, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. The latest fashions, beauty products, art or eyewear... Birmingham's Trunk Show has it ALL! 38 participating stores • Local designers • Great giveaways & prizes • ARTLOFT Gallery • Astrein's Creative Jewelers • Avalon Salon & Spa • Avenue Gallery • Barbara's Paper Bag • Caruso, Caruso • Claymore Shop • Crimson Rose Antiques • Cristions • David Wachler & Sons • Dominator Clothing • Ecco Shoes • Edward Dorian • Pink Envy • Ribbons • SEE Eyewear • Shades Optical • Sherman Shoes • Sock-ft-to-Me • Spiralz Jewelry • Tender • The Birkenstock Place • The Fuchsia Frog • The Great Frame Up • The Knitting Room • Virtuoso • Woodward & Maple • Festivities • Graziella LTD • Greenstone's Fine Jewelry • Grinstein Jewelry & Design • Hansel 'N' Gretel • Imelda's Closet • JuJo Carroll • Krystyna's European Spa • La Belle Provence • Linda Dresner • Optik Birmingham Birmin 2 hours free parking www.enjoybirmingham.com 248 433 3550 967400 Subscribe to the it err and Bonstelle Theatres 2005-2006 Seasons Subscriptions starting as low as $45! Hilberry Theatre 2005.2006 Season Sylvia by A.R. Gurney Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams Electra by Sophocles Sly Fox by Larry Gelbart Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare The Inspector General by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by John Anderson Bonstelle Theatre 200S ,-2006 Season Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust premieres 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, on cable sta- tion AMC (American Movie Classics). It will be screened as part of the JCC Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at United Artists Theatres in Commerce and 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor Ten November by Steven Dietz Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, dramatized by Helen Jerome Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith Othello by William Shakespeare Little Shop of Horrors book.and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken CALL NOW to become a Subscriber! (313) 577-2972 Melinda and Melinda, rated PG- 13, opens Friday, April 1, in Detroit-area theaters. 3/31 946310 2005 49