The Front

5.7

Woody Allen gets uber-political in this 1976 drama that puts the anti-Communist message at the forefront of the film. The concept of the friend of a writer becoming an overnight sensation after representing his black-listed friend's work is straight-forward and clever. Allen surrenders his usual writer/director roles to previously-blacklisted filmmakers who add streaks of justified anger throughout the film.

It proves to be entertaining enough while overselling its relevant thesis of freedom of speech. The plot and characters do get entirely overshadowed by the message, creating a mediocre film that satisfies only with its agenda. Woody Allen is mainly here to service a plain script, his trademark Jewish swagger shining through in rare moments. But he is entirely overshadowed by a supporting character played by Zero Mostel, who steals nearly every scene he's in. Besides him, every other character feels wooden, existing merely to service the core idea.

It doesn't help that Woody Allen has nearly no chemistry with any of his fellow actors, least of all his leading lady, played by Andrea Marcovicci. The cinematography and editing are functionable and the trademark Allen/New York City jazz that plays over most scenes adds a nice sheen to the whole picture. The ending is satisfying enough and feels very Allen-esque. A heavy-handed opening montage does well to establish the setting but also foreshadows a middle-of-the-road film that wears its agenda on its sleeve.