A major point of critical contention is Kenneth Branagh’s performance. At 62, Allen felt too old for the role and cast Branagh, who opted to play Lee as a direct imitation of Allen's own stuttering, neurotic persona. Some critics found this distracting, with Variety calling it "annoyingly mannered", while Roger Ebert was more intrigued, noting Branagh did it so carefully "you wonder why Allen didn't just play the character himself".
The film is famous for its 242 speaking roles and "who's who" cameos. It captures stars at pivotal moments in their careers: Celebrity (1998) | Movie Review Celebrity(1998)
Conversely, Judy Davis's portrayal of Robin is often cited as the film's strongest element. Her transition from a nervous wreck to a poised TV personality provides a cynical irony: the person who didn't want fame is the only one who actually achieves happiness through it. A 1998 Cultural Time Capsule A major point of critical contention is Kenneth