THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION (2001) **1/2 Woody Allen's relaxed detective mystery, except that no clues are hidden because he wants you to understand what's going on. Set in his beloved '40s, replete with costumes, décor, automobiles, and contemporary liquor bottles. Why? I don't know, I don't think it's a sweeping statement of any kind, this film is decidedly anti-soapbox. Speculated from a bizarre premise of what hypnotists might think and do that was no doubt prevalent at the time-and persisted into at least the '70s-it's all about laughing at the characters and with the actors. As always Woody's directorial genius is no small part in the casting: himself as a cerebrally tough and rowdy detective (not a brawler), and Charlize Theron as the rather dim but beautiful rich bitch who thinks she's bright and courageous but's really just careless and disengaged in that ballsy way. Dan Akyroyd is more difficult to read, and to figure why Woody placed. It's been many miles since The Blues Brothers , obviously, and this man is physically but not spiritually recognizable. Is it because he's disillusioned or because he's portraying upper echelon insurance management? Clever and unlikely lines abound, cute little Woody throwaway asides that you'll laugh at louder when you think of them the next time.
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