Cassandra's Dream

Not a comedy and not in New York? Woody Allen fortunately breaks form again with this decidedly unfunny crime drama set in London. A tale of two brothers, ambitious Ian (McGregor) is stuck in the family restaurant; Terry (Farrell) is a mechanic, gambler, and addict. On a winning streak at the dog races, the pair buy a yacht and name it "Cassandra's Dream," the name of the winning pooch. Things are looking up, but Ian finds love in a dangerous woman and Terry's gambling luck dries up. They both turn to elusive and wealthy Uncle Howard (Wilkinson), and their already tenuous lives really begin to unravel. Turns out Uncle Howard is in his own trouble, and his help will come at a cost. Like many of Allen's serious films, moral ties are tested and individual choices have far-reaching and devastating consequences, and the characters are smart and multilayered.