Woody Allen movies can basically be divided into three types: The Serious Ones, The Funny-Serious Ones and The Just Plain Funny Ones. Thankfully, the last few years Allen has been mostly making films that fall squarely into the third category and his latest, Sweet and Lowdown, is no exception.

Think of this one as Woody's version of This Is Spinal Tap -- instead of rock n' roll, his subject matter is one of the part-time clarinetist's dearest loves: jazz. Sean Penn stars in the mockudrama which chronicles the supposed life of fictional 1930s jazz guitarist, Emmet Ray. Hilarious episodes of Ray's life are framed by straight-faced "commentary" from supposed Emmet Ray experts, including Allen himself. Through the stories, we quickly learn that Ray was a brilliant musician who also happened to be a kleptomaniac who drank too much and who got his jollies by shooting rats at the local junkyard. But as despicable as the character of Ray is, Penn's great comic performance, somehow manages to make him likable. Samantha Morton also makes a sweet impression without saying a word as Ray's mute love interest.

The paradox that is Emmet Ray -- a brilliant talent who is also a laughably horrid human being -- could describe Woody himself. I doubt that's an accident.
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