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Written and Directed by Woody Allen

This is a movie that showcases Woody Allen as he delves deep into the dark corners of the human mind. Many critics compare this to his fine 2005 work with a similar setting and a similarly dark theme, Match Point, and most end up referring to Cassandra's Dream as inferior to it.

For me, the enjoyment of watching a movie comes not entirely from the idea that the work was made by a legend. If you watch a current release by a great filmmaker of whom you are a fan, expecting the same storytelling style, chances are, you will play the images of his old reels over and over in your mind, keeping yourself from focusing on his current work and taking it at face value. But if you do in fact set aside the comparisons and just sit back and watch, you might actually get your two hours' worth.

This movie is not like any of his old movies, not even like Match Point. This is a study of ordinary people and their attempts at taking on extraordinary things. It's as real as it gets, so real that Allen didn't bother to sneak in big words or money dialogues to make his characters as intellectual as the crowd favorites from his old rom-coms. Still, Allen kept his focus on capturing the ordinary things, and spinning them into interesting enough storylines for the entertainment of the savvy, critical crowd that have gathered together throughout his golden career years of sheer laughter.

It's not earth-shatteringly good, but it's good. And its story will resonate in your thoughts. That's at least an indication that the Woody Allen trademark hasn't worn out.