Watch Stardust Memories

Stardust Memories, released in 1980, is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars in the lead role. The film follows the character of Sandy Bates, a successful filmmaker who is attending a retrospective of his work. Throughout the course of the movie, Bates engages in a series of encounters with women from his past, present, and imagined future, which forces him to confront his own feelings of nostalgia and regret.

The film explores themes of love, career, art, and mortality in typical Woody Allen style, with sharp wit, dark humor, and contemplative moments. It also pays homage to some of the director's favorite filmmakers, including Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman, and Luis Buñuel, and their iconic works.

Charlotte Rampling plays Dorrie, an enigmatic woman who crosses Bates' path and becomes a source of fascination for him. Rampling's performance is mesmerizing, and her character adds to the movie's sense of mystery and surrealism. Jessica Harper portrays Daisy, a sweet and innocent woman whom Bates meets while traveling by train. Harper's performance is charming and innocent, and her character provides a contrast to the cynicism and jadedness of Bates.

The film features a range of Allen's trademark visual and narrative devices, such as black-and-white flashbacks, dream sequences, fourth-wall breaking, and a protagonist who is a neurotic and introspective intellectual. However, Stardust Memories also stands out from Allen's other films for its more experimental structure and tone, which includes musical numbers, science-fiction imagery, and surrealistic humor.

The film's opening scene, in which Bates attends a chaotic and surreal event filled with his fans, critics, and fellow filmmakers, sets the tone for the rest of the movie. It's a witty and self-aware commentary on the nature of art, celebrity, and fandom, and it establishes Bates as a conflicted and introspective character who is struggling to reconcile his own artistic vision with the expectations of his audience.

Throughout the film, Bates engages in a series of conversations and encounters with women, which reflect his own insecurities, desires, and fears. Some of these sequences are humorous, such as his awkward conversation with a group of intellectuals at a dinner party, or his encounter with a nymphomaniacal student played by Sharon Stone in one of her earliest roles. Others are more poignant and reflective, such as his conversations with his ex-girlfriend Isobel (Marie-Christine Barrault) about their past relationship, or his dreamlike encounter with a beautiful woman in a space shuttle.

Stardust Memories is also notable for its use of music, which ranges from jazz standards to classical pieces, to pop songs by the likes of The Beatles and ABBA. The music is used both to evoke a mood or atmosphere, and to comment on the characters and situations in the film. For example, the ABBA song "S.O.S." is used in a scene of Bates despairing over his love life, which adds a touch of ironic humor to his misery.

Overall, Stardust Memories is a thought-provoking and entertaining film that showcases Woody Allen's unique sensibility as a writer, director, and actor. It's a movie that rewards repeated viewings, as there are many details and nuances that can be appreciated with each watch. If you're a fan of Allen's work, or of smart and witty comedy-dramas in general, then Stardust Memories is a must-see.

Stardust Memories is a 1980 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.